Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) and VA Disability Your VA doctor may conclude that your spinal stenosis is service-connected because of this pre-existing whiplash and disk herniation. Oftentimes, spinal conditions will cause other conditions, and these conditions qualify a Veteran for another rating. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? If you believe you may have been wrongly denied benefits, you may benefit from the services of a VA disability lawyer. The VA awards disability ratings for incapacitating episodes as follows: You may be asked to take a compensation & pension exam (C&P exam). To collect VA disability compensation benefits, you must show that your spinal stenosis disability claim was caused or aggravated by your military service. Become an All-Access Member to access this page, other exclusive content, the ability to our Military Disability Experts, course discounts, and more! Spinal conditions can cause nerve problems as well. Stenosis is most common in the cervical area (the neck) and the lower back (lumbar) area, with lumbar stenosis being the most common form of this condition. This includes the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee ankle, fingers, toes, spine, and the sacroiliac joint. The latter two will show whether soft tissue may be impinging or invading the spinal cord area. Unlike a back injury that is caused by muscle, ligament, or bone damage, the effects of spinal stenosis are felt primarily in the nerves of the spinal cord. This can be demonstrated by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited movement of the affected body part. Regardless of the underlying cause, spinal stenosis leads to pressure on nerves running through the spinal canal. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans. Spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs of the spine showing a narrowing of the spinal canal. How Do You Rate Severe Spinal Stenosis - VA Disability Compensation Keep in mind that a Veterans disability law firm can work with you to build a claim for a higher rating. Spine Condition Ratings. VA Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) Your call is always free, and we wont charge you until after we have won your case. How the VA Rates Spinal Stenosis in Florida? To receive VA disability for spinal stenosis, like all other disabilities, a Veteran must first establish service connection for the injury. means your spine is locked but more or less vertical, so you can still sit at a desk chair, for example. For a cervical spine that is frozen in a favorable position, the disability rating may be capped at 30%. The spinal cord can be squeezed causing pain and numbness in the back or weakness in one or both legs. So if a Veteran has traumatic arthritis in his spine, the final diagnostic code would appear as 5010-5003. What Is Foraminal Stenosis And Can I Qualify For Benefits? Acquired spinal stenosis is spinal stenosis due to cervical disc disease or cervical facet joint osteoarthritis. One of the most common conditions secondary to spinal conditions is radiculopathy. If you are concerned that your VA disability percentage for spinal stenosis fails to account for the extent of your disability, you may wish to speak to a VA benefits lawyer. Under the IVDS schedule, a VA disability rating can be obtained based on the number and frequency of incapacitated episodes in which bed rest is ordered by a physician. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. As mentioned above, spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs that show a narrowing of the spinal canal. However, in many cases, spinal stenosis causes symptoms elsewhere in the body besides the back. Contact a VA attorney who can assist you wherever you live and without regard to whether you were deployed. The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many, Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes destruction of the joints in the body. General VA Disability Compensation Benefits Claims Forums . VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office Extraschedular VA Disability Ratings Spinal stenosis can be a difficult disability to deal with because of the breadth and variety of symptoms you may experience. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. If the spine is frozen in a favorable position, the disability rating may be capped at 40%. Surgery can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000 with a microdiscectomy or discectomy being the least expensive and spinal fusion costing the most. I served during peace timein theArmy. You may be owed compensation. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense guidelines are based upon the best information available at the time of publication. The VA can reject a claim that your condition was made worse during your service if it believes that the worsening was a natural progression of the condition. If these conservative options dont get results, your doctor may recommend injecting a corticosteroid into your spine, which can give you relief for a few days or weeks. Basically, the VA understands that the Veteran would not have developed sleep apnea if they didnt get PTSD while in service. In most cases, foraminal stenosis is caused by gradual degeneration of the spine that happens as you age. The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many joint groups are affected and whether there is painful motion. The amount of base compensation veterans receive . 1.00 Musculoskeletal Disorders - Adult - Social Security Administration The VA rating for degenerative disc disease typically is 20%, despite how much pain the condition may cause. However, the VA disability rating for spinal stenosis is calculated exactly the same as other spinal diseases and injuries. Spinal Stenosis Disability Claim Attorney | Filing for Disability It can cause muscle weakness and pain or cramping extending from the buttocks down through the leg. Foraminal stenosis is the narrowing or the tightening of the openings located between the bones of your spine. . Neck muscle injuries. VA Disability Benefits for Sciatica and Similar Nerve Conditions While these codes may seem important, the rating formula is the same whether you suffer from spinal stenosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, vertebral dislocation or fracture or another condition. NOTE: Entitlement of a spinal condition includes spinal stenosis. These secondary conditions would be rated separately from the underlying spinal condition. If your MRIs dont show a significant stenosis, but you are experiencing severe back pain that still inhibits your ability to work, and you have. . Were You Denied VA Disability Benefits for Spinal Stenosis? Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? This opinion will be most favorable when it comes to establishing service connection. Veterans & Spinal Stenosis Disability Rating 888.878.9350 VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level. Radiculopathy | Johns Hopkins Medicine As discussed above, nerve pain in the leg may be diagnosed as a leg injury rather than spinal stenosis. Lumbar Stenosis Symptoms Numbness or tingling in your arm or leg, weakness in your arm or leg, pain or cramping in your legs when you walk, and back pain. We use your disability rating to determine how much disability compensation you'll receive each month, as well as your eligibility for other VA benefits. Also, the VA requires that all ROM measurements be taken with a goniometer. Did you receive a VA disability compensation rating of 40%? All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. These exams are called comprehensive preventive health evaluations (CPHE) or wellness checks., The VA routinely mishandles spinal injury claims. You must have a positive imaging test (MRI, . If your spine is locked, but its in a favorable condition, your disability rating may be as low as 30% or 40%. In severe cases, it can lead to myelopathy, paralysis, bladder and bowel incontinence or retention, headaches, and other debilitating symptoms. It will also help if someone else in your division remembers what happened. What Happens If You Don't Treat Spinal Stenosis? This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. There are two types of arthritis that are rated under the same rating system; degenerative arthritis, and traumatic arthritis. For example, after a fall or motor vehicle accident, a military doctor may attribute leg and foot pain to a leg injury rather than spinal stenosis. Not necessarily, but its worth looking at your C-File to see if you had spinal stenosis during your service and it was incorrectly diagnosed. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. At these exams, you can expect your doctor to ask you questions about your background and medical history, evaluate your symptoms and range of motion. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. What is the diagnostic code for traumatic arthritis? Because the rating formula is almost entirely based on ROM measurements, its important to make sure that a doctor performs ROM testing as accurately as possible. For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. Table II - Ratings for Multiple Losses of Extremities With Dictator's Rating Code and 38 CFR Citation Note. Spinal stenosis is most commonly experienced in the neck and lower part of the back. Finally, the general VA disability ratings table for spinal injuries and diseases allows ratings based on muscle guarding, muscle spasm, or tenderness in your back. Both upper (cervical) and . Because c-spine stenosis is a degenerative illness, a person's condition will continue to deteriorate . In order to be granted a VA disability rating for spinal stenosis at 30%, you must meet either of these conditions: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, or Favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, where your spine is fixed in place but at a neutral position at 0 degrees. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month. I bought a home. Most issues that cause temporary (not chronic) back pain receive a VA disability rating between 10%-40%. QUALIFYING STATEMENTS . If your condition meets the listing criteria, it will automatically be considered a disability. If your spinal stenosis or foraminal stenosis is service-connected, or if your condition was aggravated because of your military service, you may qualify for VA disability compensation. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Mayo Clinic notes that there are two different types of spinal stenosis: While occasionally a person suffering from spinal stenosis will show zero symptoms, often Veterans seeking VA disability compensation for spinal stenosis will display one or more of the following symptoms: Cervical Stenosis Symptoms Numbness or tingling in your arm or leg, weakness in your arm or leg, problems walking, neck pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. 5238 Spinal stenosis - Veterans Benefits Network 203, San Jose, CA 95134 As the foramen close in, it can lead to those nerves becoming pinched. To qualify for disability because of spinal stenosis, you must meet several requirements: The stenosis must be in your lumbar region. An unfavorable position means that the spine is frozen in a position other than the natural upright position. for L3 -L4 L4-L5 L5- S1 in the past they are rating as post operative residuals of . They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide - Berry Law Failure to address the symptoms will lead to a lifestyle filled with numbness, pain, and muscle weakness. Basically, the SSA understands it's harder to go back to school, move for work or change careers after age 50. We assign you a disability rating based on the severity of your service-connected condition. Since that time, we have provided compassionate After recovery, the VA will re-evaluate their condition. means your spine is locked in a position that is something other than vertical. SPINAL CORD STIMULATION - Veterans Benefits Network If the entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, the disability rating may be as high as 100%.