For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. VA Claims Insider Submits Statement to Senate VA Committee: How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits. Another common secondary disability is Radiculopathy secondary to Back and Neck Pain. Even after you get your rating decision, run it by some certified VA lawyers to catch any mistakes the VA made with your records. Rating. Hill & Ponton P.A. 100. VA ratings for neck pain require an accurate Range of Motion (ROM) test of the flexion extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the head. This process starts with the veteran submitting evidence that they experience chronic neck pain. is that most veterans that dont add up have one or two directions of flexion that are OK and two other directions that are impossible. Degenerative Disc Diseases This degeneration happens when the discs between spinal vertebrae break down over time, which can cause pain in the back, arms, neck, and legs. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. yet assertive representation for our clients. A Federal Circuit court ruling in April of 2018 decided that VA can award disability benefits for undiagnosed pain if it is linked to an injury, symptom, or in-service event. This is done to decrease the damage, pain, and discomfort that a disease or injury causes. At VA Claims Insider, were here to walk you through everything you need to know, including how to file your VA claims. You can see that IVDS ratings are all riding on the number of time your back pain is so severe that you are laid out. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. The more you are immobilized, the more your VA rating will increase. Asthma secondary to Allergies. If youve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low ratingor youre unsure how to get startedreach out to us! If you receive a rating of 20% or below, you will not be eligible for a higher rate if you have a dependent, spouse, or child in the way you would with a 30% or higher rating. Hire a VA disability lawyer to help you determine whether or not a secondary condition is eligible for VA service connection. To start the Social Security disability application, you can go online at www.SSA.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. Getting Disability for Cervical Neck Fusion You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits for your cervical neck fusion or impairments. This level is basically less flexion: 30-60 of flexion for the lower to the middle back and 15-30 for your neck. The temporary 100% rating may continue for 1 to 3 monthsdepending on your unique case. Those symptoms can also point to diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, or arthritis, so youll need some X-Rays and CT scans on your back to see what is going on in there. Youll bend forward and backward as well as side to side, and every measurement matters. While not all of these are exclusive back pains, they can all point to conditions in the spine that would warrant a higher VA rating. VA disability ratings for spinal fusion determine the degree of spine movement possible without intolerable pain. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. IVDS is one of the more difficult, while radiculopathy or ankylosis is easier. For a specific example, if you have 120 of combined range of motion in your thoracolumbar spine (everything from the middle of your back down), you will receive a rating of 20%. When the discs between your vertebrae wear out and cause all of these problems, sometimes a surgeon will fuse two or more of your vertebrae together. Neck muscle injuries. Just like driving a truck with bad shocks, that bumpy ride on your back wears out the equipment really quick. Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or. In some cases, the VA may actually decrease a veterans disability rating after spinal fusion surgery if they feel that the veterans overall condition has improved as a result of the surgery. Degenerative Disc Disease is a normal part of aging for a huge percentage of the population, so youll have to prove your back injuries are service-connected. If youre applying for VA disability benefits and youve had spinal fusion surgery, you should definitely include that information in your claim. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. You might wonder whether or not a veteran can get increased disability benefits from the VA due to spinal fusion surgery. Similar to VA compensation for most other conditions, service connection requires three separate pieces of evidence. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. In selected cases, some surgeons use a synthetic substance instead of bone grafts. Does the veteran have radicular pain or any other signs or symptoms due to radiculopathy? If you have a limitation of motion that only applies to how you can twist, note that if you have full thoracolumbar motion forward, sideways, and backward, that is only going to add up to 180 of total motion without some rotation. Does the veteran have a diagnosis of a neck condition? These synthetic substances help promote bone growth and speed the fusion of the vertebrae. Cervical spine forward flexion of 15 or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (this will be on both lists! Once thats done, the surgeon will place bone grafts or metal rods and screws between the vertebrae to hold them together while they heal. Neck pain is known to cause migraines, sleep issues, and radiculopathy. The combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or. All Rights Reserved. The VA only gives a 50% rating if you have unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. They will then remove any damaged or diseased tissue between the vertebrae. Several disabling back conditions can qualify a veteran for VA disability benefits. Many of the angles in the chart above relate to forward flexion. You can enlist the help of an attorney or disability advocate. Your final rating for spinal conditions (neck, upper back, mid back, lower back) depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms to include Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) and Painful Motion. This means your mid and upper back is frozen in an unfavorable position. The older the veteran gets, the more of these they will have. However, its important to remember that the VA will not automatically award a rating just because youve had spinal fusion surgery. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). The #1 best way to increase your VA disability rating for neck and shoulder pain is to have objective medical evidence (X-Ray or MRI results) to show your symptoms have worsened over time. Spinal fusion surgery can treat a range of disabilities including: Spinal fusion surgery can be performed on any part of the spine, but its most commonly done on the lower back. The favorable or unfavorable part refers to what position you are stuck in. ), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (here it is again! . The ratings range from 10% (minor afflictions) to 100% (significant impairment of the entire spine). Regardless of the veterans current employment status, do the conditions listed in the diagnosis section impact his/her ability to perform any type of occupational task (such as standing, walking, lifting, sitting, etc.)? Its usually performed when other treatment options, like medication and physical therapy, have failed to provide relief. If you experience back or neck pain from sitting in a chair for too long, you shouldnt be embarrassed to apply for VA benefits. Does the veteran have localized tenderness, guarding or muscle spasm of the cervical spine? Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call with an experienced Team Member. #17. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! As of this writing, a total of 1,129,931 disabled veterans are service connected for neck conditions. Injuries such as radiculopathy dont depend so much on the pain in your back as they depend on the paralysis in your hands and feet. 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. When the VA rates IVDS, they rate it based on incapacitating episodes. Unfortunately, constant changes to regulations have resulted in a process that can be confusing to many former service members. VA ratings for neck problems go up fast because so much goes on inside your cervical spine. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. 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. A Goniometer should be used at your C&P exam to measure Range of Motion (ROM) of your spine; each measurement is rounded to the nearest five degrees. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine. Is Favorable Ankylosis Better than Unfavorable Ankylosis? The VA can give you a rating for unfavorable ankylosis of the thumb and any finger. This means that your VA disability rating for neck pain will likely not be the primary rating involved in your TDIU, but it may supplement another more severe condition. Spinal fusion can happen naturally or surgically. Only individuals with chronic neck pain will be eligible for VA benefits. If you believe you can make an argument to change VAs mind, it may be worthwhile to pursue a different decision. This prevents pinched nerves, slipped discs, and other IVDS problems. Note that a veteran is eligible to be rated for both a neck condition, back condition, and Radiculopathy secondary to multipole extremities. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. If youve had a spinal fusion, you may wonder if youre eligible for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Updated: October 24, 2022. Any injury that is documented while an individual is enlisted is eligible for service connection. The reasonable doubt rule, means that the evidence provided by the claimant/beneficiary (or obtained on his/her behalf) must only persuade the decision maker that each factual matter is at least as likely as not.. VA Ratings for Spondylosis. To receive the highest possible disability rating, you must provide the proper evidence to support your claim. If you are a veteran with a spinal fusion, you may wonder if you can get a service connection for your disability. You might be able to lean right and left 30 just fine. Lay statements come from family members or the veteran themselves, and simply detail more information about how the veterans daily life is affected by the disability. 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. Youll be measured at your C&P exam to see how much you can bend at the waist and at the neck. How to Apply for Benefits After a Spinal Fusion. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Neck muscles can become strained from poor posture, carrying heavy things, military training exercises, high-intensity physical training, deployments, or long hours hunched over a computer. However, you must show that your symptoms are severe. The highest scheduler rating for neck pain is 100 percent, which means your entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. 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. This level can also have muscle spasms, muscle guarding, and pain without abnormal gait or curves. Doctors are currently disagreeing about bed rest and IVDS, but here is how the VA rates those times you are put flat on your back from IVDS pain. This means that a 10% VA disability rating for spinal stenosis plus 60% VA disability rating for peripheral nerve disability in an arm will produce an overall VA disability rating of 60%. Forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims, Establishing a Service-related Connection to Spinal Fusion, Spinal Fusion VA Disability Rating 30-60%, Spinal Fusion VA Disability Rating 70-100%. VA Disability ratings concerning your back fall into a few different groups: Your rating and diagnosis will depend on what is affected, your full measure of symptoms, and what affects your daily life the most. General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuiries of the Spine. 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? Unfavorable ankylosis is when your stuck bent over in any direction. TDIU benefits are equivalent to those of a 100% disability rating and are awarded when one or more disabilities render a veteran unable to secure and keep substantially gainful employment. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. In general, the more supporting evidence you can provide, the better. Cervicalgia (Neck Pain) with or without symptoms such as radiating pain, stiffness, or aching around the spine affected by residuals of injury or disease to the neck and shoulder: Unfavorable ankylosis is a condition in which the entire cervical spine (neck), the entire thoracolumbar spine (mid to upper back), or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following symptoms: Pro Tip: The thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments are evaluated separately, except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments, which will be rated as a single disability. The combined range of motion, however, is found by adding your degree of flexion in all four directions. Favorable ankylosis is when the spinal fusion does not result in changes to posture or standing/sitting form. Specifically, VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine as follows: 100% - unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Yes, sort of. The following are a list of common questions asked at a C&P exam for Neck Pain: #1. #8. Forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or. These physical demands take their toll on the spine, and it is not uncommon for our veterans to find themselves dealing with back pain that hinders their quality of life. They can be diagnosed and proven with X-Rays and MRIs long before you show any incapacitating symptoms. How VA Disability Ratings for Neck Injuries Work. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Symptoms often get worse over time and are caused by an individual performing the same action over and over again. This injury can even require surgery to relieve the pain. This Firm is So Good at what they do! You Might Also Like the Following Blog Posts: Cervicalgia is the formal term used to describe Neck Pain.. Under 38 CFR 4.73, injuries to neck muscles are compensated differently depending on the severity of the impairment and the muscles affected. Neck Pain is the #5 most claimed VA disability. The VA rating for unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine is 40%. Spinal stenosis (diagnostic code 5238): Spinal stenosis is when the spaces in the spine are narrowed and . If yes, document the Veterans description of functional loss or functional impairment in his/her own words. #6. Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation. That means everything from the middle of your backpack and bra strap down. Is applying for VA benefits years after service allowed? The surgery begins with the surgeon making an incision in the patients back. 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. They will also test your range of motion at different angles to get an accurate picture of your condition. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. Okay, lets explore how to get a VA Rating for Neck Pain as well as what you can expect at a C&P exam for your neck and shoulder. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. You need to see your doctor at least yearly to check on your back. I have SC for degenerative disc disease in my cervical and lumbar spine, rated at 20% each. Unlike other disabilities recognized by VA, service connection for neck pain does not necessarily require a current diagnosis. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 It depends on several factors, including the specifics of your surgery, your post-operative course, and whether you have any other disabling conditions that contribute to your overall disability rating. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine due. If youre a veteran who has undergone spinal fusion surgery, you may wonder how the VA will determine your disability rating. Veterans who have had spinal fusion surgery are potentially eligible for VA benefits relating to the spinal fusion. #10. If youve been diagnosed with any of these conditions and your doctor has recommended spinal fusion surgery, you may be eligible for a VA disability rating. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! Its imperative to understand these ratings as they determine the benefits you are entitled to. Currently, VA rates neck pain severity on the following values: 0% rating Forward flexion of the cervical spine over 40 degrees, 10 % rating Forward flexion of the cervical spine over 30 degrees, but less than or equal to 40 degrees; or a combined range of motion of the cervical spine above 170 degrees but not causing abnormal spine contour or abnormal gait, 20% rating Forward flexion of the cervical spine over 15 degrees, but less than or equal to 30 degrees; or a combined range of motion of the cervical spine above 170 degrees, 30% rating Forward flexion of the cervical spine less than or equal to 15 degrees; or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, which occurs when the spine is stuck, but in a position that does not heavily interfere with an individuals daily activities, 40% rating Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, which occurs when the spine is stuck in a position that makes daily activities extremely difficult, 50% rating NOT APPLICABLE to the cervical spine, only assigned to individuals with unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, 100% rating Unfavorable ankylosis of the ENTIRE spine. This erases the need for an official opinion from a medical professional. The general minimum for undiagnosed back pain veterans' disability benefits is 10%. Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. Other Conditions That Come With Fused Vertebrae. See a doctor familiar with VA disability to explore your symptoms more fully. Does the veteran have any other neurologic abnormalities or findings related to a cervical spine condition (such as bowel or bladder problems/pathologic reflexes)? That is considered normal. Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. Well address that elsewhere, but for the purposes of this article, well focus only on the back. 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. These diagnosed and service-connected disabilities can get you a higher rating. If there is no diagnosis, a veteran will still need to show VA that connection. You dont want to miss out on the full benefit that you deserve. This occurs when a veteran is unable to perform with the same strength and endurance as before the condition. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. Patients will likely need to take it easy and avoid strenuous activity during that time. Does the Veteran report flare-ups of the cervical spine? 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. Flexion is how they add up your degrees of movement, as you can see in the diagram below. Muscle guarding can happen to resist pain or other signals from the sensory nerves in your back. Each of those additional problems might carry their own VA rating, so get ready for some VA math! Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Already working with us? Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 #20. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. After all these assessments, the test practitioner will send VA an opinion about whether or not they believe your condition is related to your time in the military. One of the nice things about these VA ratings is that they do not require you to have pain, radiculopathy, stiffness, or even aches. Regardless of the cause, VA disability for neck pain is awarded to those injured while serving. This is how much you can bend over forward. Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans..
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