50% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. These diagnosed and service-connected disabilities can get you a higher rating. #13. Is Favorable Ankylosis Better than Unfavorable Ankylosis? Pain in the neckor cervicalgiais recognized by VA as a disability that should be compensated if caused by military service. What Should I Expect at a C&P Exam for Neck Pain? You actually cant get VA Disability for DDD. If you arent using a certified VA disability lawyer like Woods and Woods, make sure you, your VSO, or your friend at the American Legion dont overlook that point. This condition can be diagnosed by a medical professional. 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. Fill out the short form below to contact us. Getting Disability for Cervical Neck Fusion You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits for your cervical neck fusion or impairments. Once they have your records, a doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms. To receive compensation for a neck injury disability, veterans must be able to prove that their neck pain was caused or aggravated by their time in the military. Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC)so you can increase your rating FAST! The goal of the surgery is to stabilize the spine and relieve pain. Foraminal Stenosis This is a form of spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine) that involves the tightening of foramen between bones in the spine. A 10% disability rating for spinal fusion is granted when forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not United States. Radiculopathy is commonly rated as a secondary VA disability claim for secondary service connection due to one or more service connected neck, shoulder, and back conditions. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain | The Tuley Law Office Favorable ankylosis is when the spinal fusion does not result in changes to posture or standing/sitting form. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. Here one of our VA disability lawyers goes over the questions Woods and Woods, The Veterans Firm, is often asked about veterans disability claims and appeals. To assess a veterans neck pain and the potential connection to an in-service event, VA is allowed to request a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. These all involve the back bending in ways that it shouldnt. For example, if you also have arthritis, the VA might factor that into your rating. Other valuable types of evidence are lay statements and buddy statements. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. If youre a veteran who has undergone spinal fusion surgery, you may wonder how the VA will determine your disability rating. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that involves joining two or more vertebrae together. Forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or. The disability ratings for spinal diseases range from 10% for minor conditions to 100% for . 5 Basic Rules to get VA Disability for Back Problems Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Any sorts of spine surgery while in the service, injuries that affected your back like falls or impacts, and events like car wrecks can all point to spine and back service-connected injuries. #14. Learn what youve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation youve earned for your service. VA Ratings for Spondylosis. #16. A soldier who has Cervicalgia may be able to get compensation from the VA in one of these ways: If a normal spine rating indicates a grade of 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, or 100 percent, and neck discomfort (neck pain) is classed as a secondary service link, the patient . He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The VA will evaluate your condition based on several factors, including the severity of your symptoms, the extent of your disability, and your ability to perform daily activities. Veterans must prove secondary service connection if their first service-connected condition causes a different disability or makes an existing disability worse. Additionally, they must keep you from working for at least 12 months. Thats why the VA law says: If intervertebral disc syndrome is present in more than one spinal segment, provided that the effects in each spinal segment are clearly distinct, evaluate each segment on the basis of incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, whichever method results in a higher evaluation for that segment. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Note that a veteran is eligible to be rated for both a neck condition, back condition, and Radiculopathy secondary to multipole extremities. If the shock absorbers are removed you wont have space to pinch nerves. They can be diagnosed and proven with X-Rays and MRIs long before you show any incapacitating symptoms. Hill & Ponton P.A. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) views conditions of the spine through two main categoriesneck and back. Does the veteran have any additional contributing factors of a neck and shoulder disability? These include degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs, among others. Due to the veterans cervical spine condition, is there functional impairment of an extremity such that no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation with prosthesis? VA Ratings are based on your flexion, or how far you can bend your neck, or they are based on the paralysis in your hands and feet because of your spine problems. Spinal Stenosis VA Disability Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain: Cervical Spine, Neck Arthritis Some veterans are bent over sideways but can still walk around with a cane. 2023 by JVDS. The VA rates Cervicalgia under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, General Rating Formula for the Spine as follows. #21. They are very knowledgeable. The general minimum for undiagnosed back pain veterans' disability benefits is 10%. Theyll also look at whether or not youre still experiencing pain despite having undergone surgery. VA uses 38 CFR 4.71a, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to evaluate most neck pain conditions. Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine up to 85 or of the cervical spine up to 40 OR the combined range of motion at 120-235 for thoracolumbar or 170-335 for cervical. Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition in which the shock absorbers between your vertebrae the bones in your back wear out due to age, wear and tear, or other illness. #17. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Although cervical spondylosis is just a term to explain aging, if it happens faster than its supposed to, you may be eligible for VA compensation. By joining the vertebrae, the surgeon can stabilize the spine and take pressure off the nerves. Share. The combined range of motion, however, is found by adding your degree of flexion in all four directions. eCFR :: 38 CFR 4.71a -- Schedule of ratings - eCFR :: Home Combined thoracolumbar less than 120 or cervical combined less than 170 or muscle spasms or guarding enough to cause abnormal gait or an abnormal contour of your spine. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Many natural conditions are also accelerated by time spent in the service. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. A number of them require surgery to correct the problem. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain Explained, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease, pick-up the phone and call the VA health facility nearest you, CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim. If youre applying for VA disability benefits and youve had spinal fusion surgery, you should definitely include that information in your claim. What is the history (including onset and course) of the veterans cervical spine condition? Share with: Link: Copy link. Recovery time from either a surgery or the immobilization of a joint by a cast without surgery requires a temporary 100% disability rating for a service-connected disability. You dont want to miss out on the full benefit that you deserve. First, you need to know that the VA will not automatically give you a 100% disability rating just because youve had spinal fusion surgery. One of the nice things about these VA ratings is that they do not require you to have pain, radiculopathy, stiffness, or even aches. Can You Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease and IVDS? . Top 100+ VA Disability List of Secondary Conditions (2022 Edition) There are 3 primary ways a veteran can get a VA Rating for Cervicalgia: If youre already service connected, and youre trying to increase your VA disability rating for neck pain, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant the higher rating by law. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Back surgery will cause your rating to increase temporarily, but the permanent or even total rating will help you not have to go back to work.
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