How Do You Rate Severe Spinal Stenosis - VA Disability Compensation Since that time, we have provided compassionate For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Spinal conditions can cause nerve problems as well. A. found that the VA processed the majority of the 62,500 spinal injury claims decided in the first half of 2018. The VA awards disability ratings for incapacitating episodes as follows: You may be asked to take a compensation & pension exam (C&P exam). you viewed to avoid repetition. you have shown that there is was an incident in service and that you have a current disability, When the VA awards service-connection for a condition/disease, it has to determine how much to award for the condition/disease. In fact, occasionally, the back pain associated with spinal stenosis may be dwarfed by the nerve pain experienced in the legs, feet, arms, and hands. Back Pain VA Rating: A Guide to Spinal Injuries - Hill & Ponton, P.A. In order to ensure that youre getting the most out of your disability claim, you need to understand how the VA rates your condition. Examples of secondary conditions that may arise as complications of stenosis include radiculopathy, neurogenic bladder, and knee and hip problems caused by walking difficulties due to stenosis. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The exact VA disability percentage for spinal stenosis that has caused a frozen spine depends on the position where the spine is frozen. As evidenced by the rating schedules below, the only back condition eligible for a 100 percent schedular rating is unfavorable ankylosis (immobility) of the entire spine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is [K.S]. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) PTSD Lawyers | Berry Law Firm. Spinal discs act as cushions between your vertebrae. All rights reserved. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. Canes range from $25 to $100 and walkers can be more than $200. They will have you move, twist, or turn as far as you can without reaching your limit or experiencing significant pain and note the degrees of movement you can manage. 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. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Call 800-544-9144 today for a free case evaluation or contact us here. 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. Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans. Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine leads to neck pain, back pain, and sometimes causes pain to radiate into the arms and legs. The VA not only makes, Both degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis, regardless of the joint affected, are rated under diagnostic code 5003. In a February 2007 rating decision, the RO granted service connection for spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. ATTORNEY FOR THE . If you are suffering from the effects of Spinal stenosis you may qualify for disability benefits. Favorable position means your spine is locked but more or less vertical, so you can still sit at a desk chair, for example. Lumbar spinal stenosis results in low back pain, as well as weakness, numbness, pain and abnormal sensations in the buttocks, thighs, legs, calves, and feet. Most issues that cause temporary (not chronic) back pain receive a VA disability rating between 10%-40%. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? For instance, which pages you go to most. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. . There are two types of spinal stenosis treatment: surgical and non-surgical. Call (855) 873-2604 For a Free Evaluation of Your Spinal Stenosis Disability Case. There must be x-ray evidence of arthritis in the cervical or thoracolumbar joints for the VA to rate a spinal condition under the code for degenerative arthritis. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. The attorneys at Berry Law Firm are dedicated to helping injured Veterans. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. 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. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. For example, if your spinal stenosis is caused by a bulging disc, dislocated vertebrae, or bone fragments, you may be able to identify an accidental fall, vehicle collision, or any other physical injury incurred during your military service that worsened your condition. We get emails all the time asking if certain health problems qualify for benefits. 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. For example, a cervical spine with forward flexion of 15 produces a VA disability percentage of 30% and a lumbar spine with a total ROM of 120 produces a VA disability percentage of 20%, for an overall VA disability rating of 40%. For a cervical spine that is frozen in a favorable position, the disability rating may be capped at 30%. If you have multiple disability ratings, we use them to calculate . 14K 1,344 9. To qualify for the total unemployability disability benefit, you must meet two distinct criteria: Note that theres a significant difference in monthly disability benefits between a 40% disability rating and a 100% disability rating. Pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of motor control are some of the symptoms of the condition. Radiculopathy is caused by compressed nerves in the spine and results in pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the nerve. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lawyers 6940 O St, Suite 400 Lincoln, NE 68510. A single veteran with no dependents and a total disability rating of 40% would receive $627.61 per month, as of 2020. Case Info Step 2. How to Qualify for Disability Benefits With Spondylosis VA/DoD CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense . Spinal stenosis can be a difficult disability to deal with because of the breadth and variety of symptoms you may experience. Were You Denied VA Disability Benefits for Spinal Stenosis? Want to know if you qu. If radiculopathy is caused by a neck condition, the symptoms will be felt in the shoulder and can travel down the arm and into the hand. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. To establish service connection, veterans must generally do the following: Evidence to support your VA disability claim may include military personnel and medical records, lay testimony, and medical opinions. If severe enough, anxiety and depression arising from a service-related condition may also qualify for an additional disability rating. VA Disability For Back Pain // Appeals, Claims, Denials - Vet If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. For example, if the cervical spine ROM measurements are 15, 30, 0, 30, 45, and 45, the total ROM would be 165. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. One common cause of foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy is a bulging or herniated disc. The amount of base compensation veterans receive . These cookies do not store any personal information. Because the vertebrae are closer together, they tend to compress the nerves that lie inside the spine, especially the spinal cord. If your spinal stenosis was caused by another service-connected disability, you can apply for secondary service connection. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 The rating systems used for arthritis of the spine is the second most common rating system for spine conditions. Some joints are referred to as major joints, while others are referred to as minor joints. Berry Law gets Veterans the disability compensation they earned. In some cases, the VA may help veterans get surgery to treat spinal stenosis. A 2019 Inspector General report found that the VA processed the majority of the 62,500 spinal injury claims decided in the first half of 2018. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you meet both of these requirements. Spinal Stenosis by itself means literally nothing, other than that you have a narrowing of the spinal canal at some point (which about 70% of adults have normally). Full eligibility requirements Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? When your medical disability occurred during your service, it is almost always presumed to be service-connected. The spinal cord can be squeezed causing pain and numbness in the back or weakness in one or both legs. Often, spinal stenosis is caused by the formation of bone spurs that grow into your spinal canal. About VA Disability Ratings | Veterans Affairs - VA.gov Home | Veterans 4.30 Convalescent ratings. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. Background In 2017, 4.5 million veterans with medical conditions or injuries that occurred or worsened during active-duty service received disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. A favorable position means the ROM measurement for flexion or extension is 0 degrees. Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the passages through which your nerves travel through your spine become narrow or partially blocked. With this in mind, its important to know which spinal conditions are not rated under the general rating formula. Some of the most common disabilities Veterans have are the result of injuries to their back, especially those related to the spine. A 40% VA Rating for the Lumbar Spine - YouTube Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury, excessive movement, or other physical trauma. In all other cases, the ROM measurements of the lumbar spine are rated separately from the ROM measurements of the cervical spine. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. It will also help if someone else in your division remembers what happened. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Any injuries or disabilities that are the result of military service are eligible for compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Often, spinal stenosis is caused by the formation of bone spurs that grow into your spinal canal. 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. Appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals, Appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Increase Veterans Affairs Disability Rating, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), VA Mental Health: Legal Help for Veterans, Veterans Affairs Compensation for Sleep Apnea, VA Rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Symptoms, 2023 Veterans Affairs Disability Rate Increase, Have a current medical diagnosis for the disability, Have an in-service event or experience that led to the disability, Get a medical nexus connecting the in-service event to the current medical diagnosis. You could be entitled to $3,627 per month! The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis . Your spinal stenosis may cause or contribute to other medical conditions, as well. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. This includes the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee ankle, fingers, toes, spine, and the sacroiliac joint. Spinal stenosis simply refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal which results in pain, weakness, and numbness when nerves are compressed. I was medically retired from active duty Army in January of 2016 with a rating of 80% for a variety of things. Spinal stenosis is a type of back injury that a Veteran could develop after an in-service injury. Because there are technically two diagnostic codes associated with one condition, you would see the condition listed on rating decisions as 5242-5003. All the disabilities stemming from spinal stenosis should be accounted for in a fair VA disability rating. Spine Condition Ratings. The disabilities we propose to add are: spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the central spinal canal that causes pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots, most commonly due to degenerative arthritis or degenerative disc disease) (diagnostic code 5238), spondylolisthesis or segmental instability (slipping of all or part of one vertebra forward . This can be demonstrated by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited movement of the affected body part. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. we represent clients nationwide. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back pain from multilevel degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can cause symptoms throughout the body. An increase at this point for a spine disability requires additional loss of range of motion, ankylosis, or . Fax: (757) 220-9451. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide - Berry Law If left untreated, spinal stenosis may cause permanent numbness, weakness, balance problems, incontinence, and/or paralysis. Flexion 45 degrees, OR combined ROM 340 degrees, Flexion 90 degrees, OR combined ROM 240 degrees, Flexion between 30 and 45 degrees, OR combined ROM between 175 and 340 degrees, Flexion between 60 and 90 degrees, OR combined ROM between 150 and 240 degrees, Flexion between 15 and 35 degrees, OR combined ROM 170%, Flexion between 30 and 60 degrees OR combined ROM of 120%. ). To receive VA disability for spinal stenosis, like all other disabilities, a Veteran must first establish service connection for the injury. Other back impairments have a maximum schedular rating of 60 percent or lower. For example, fractured and/or dislocated vertebrae can lead to pain and weakness in the arms, hips, shoulders, etc. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. have the greatest impact on the veterans ability to work. When the spinal canal is obstructed due to spinal stenosis, abnormal narrowing occurs. have been offered surgery and epidurals havent decided yet but if anyone can weigh in on this.. if you have spinal stenosis DDD DJD hypert,etc are you suppose to file a claim for each one separately? Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. 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? To collect VA disability compensation benefits, you must show that your spinal stenosis disability claim was caused or aggravated by your military service. If your case of spinal stenosis does not result in limits on your ROM, you may receive a low VA disability rating even though your condition interferes with your quality of life and earning capacity. Think of the first number as an identifying diagnostic code that tells you what joint is affected, while the second diagnostic code tells you the rating system the condition is being rated under. Your spinal stenosis may force you to stop working before normal retirement age because you can't do certain things. 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. You may not notice at the onset, but the pain will evolve slowly over time. Neck muscle injuries. You cannot do your prior occupation, and; You are unable to keep and maintain a job in the greater national economy due to your service-connected disability. Specifically, VA rates spinal stenosis according to its General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, outlined below: 100% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Fill out the short form below to contact us. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain and Spinal Arthritis which may qualify you for a higher rating. Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine leads to neck pain, back pain, and sometimes, 60% if there are severe incapacitating episodes that occur 4 or more times per year, 40% if there are incapacitating episodes that occur 3 or more times per year if there is a definite (but not necessarily significant) decrease in health, 20% if there are less than 3 incapacitating episodes per year. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. The following percentages are available under the rating criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: Its possible for rheumatoid arthritis to be rated under diagnostic code 5003 like degenerative and traumatic arthritis. Your call is always free, and we wont charge you until after we have won your case. The most straightforward pathway to fulfilling this criterion is a diagnosis of spinal stenosis in your military records. Also, the VA requires that all ROM measurements be taken with a goniometer. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] eCFR :: 38 CFR Part 4 -- Schedule for Rating Disabilities With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals. When these lateral nerve roots become compressed, it can disrupt the signals passing from your brain and spinal column out through the nerve roots to your arms, legs, and other parts of your body a condition called, Your spinal stenosis may be accompanied by other back conditions, including, Lumbosacral or cervical strain (diagnostic code 5237) used to refer to neck or, Spondylolisthesis/segmental instability (, Ankylosing spondylitis (diagnostic code 5240) a painful type of spinal arthritis.