va disability rating for cervical spine fusion

Yes, many veterans suffer from service connected neck and shoulder conditions, which can affect your back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. C&P exams are typically carried about by a VA physician or other VA-approved health professional. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine area. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) is a disability in which parts of your spine break or move and put your nerves or other parts of your spine in the wrong spot. Unlike other disabilities recognized by VA, service connection for neck pain does not necessarily require a current diagnosis. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. Veterans are not awarded compensation for neck issues that were present at one time but have since healed or gone away. The difference is almost $2,700 per year! After you have filed your claim for VA disability benefits and the VA adjudicators have decoded that your disability is service connected, the, For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. 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. 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. However, you must show that your symptoms are severe. Most neck injuries follow the same diagnostic criteria. Please complete this form to send us your message. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Hire a VA disability lawyer to help you determine whether or not a secondary condition is eligible for VA service connection. 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. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine. #13. This device accurately assesses how far individuals are capable of bending or moving their joints. The problem is when this happens just by walking, sitting, or moving around normally. #12. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 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? 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. Since that time, we have provided compassionate You get the rating for other conditions that fall under that category based on pain, restricted movement, or the nervous system problems mentioned above. 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. we represent clients nationwide. Forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or. Gathering all of your medical documents that detail the development of your pain and symptoms should be your first step. #16. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 There are several different kinds of back disabilities that can earn a VA disability rating. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. A cervicalgia VA rating will be decided based on the severity of symptoms and how much they limit an individuals movement or range of motion. When in doubt, the benefit is ALWAYS given to the veteran. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. Pain in the neckor cervicalgiais recognized by VA as a disability that should be compensated if caused by military service. This is how much you can bend over forward. That means everything from the middle of your backpack and bra strap down. The important part is that the veteran proves the pain is not merely subjective. Does the veteran use any assistive devices as a normal mode of locomotion, although occasional locomotion by other methods may be possible? The VA calculates the amount of disability compensation according to how significantly a spine condition affects the range of motion. Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine up to 85 degrees or of the cervical spine up to 40 degrees. 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. Learn more about how VA Claims Insider can help you get the rating you DESERVE!Speak with a VA Disability expert and start for FREE! Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. You're not alone. 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. It can also be difficult if there is no record of the injury you received. My back conditions have worsened. Veteran with child only (no spouse or parents). Youll be measured at your C&P exam to see how much you can bend at the waist and at the neck. In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. That sounds like your lower back has to move less than 30 in each direction since 30+30+30+30=120. 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. #2. By joining the vertebrae, the surgeon can stabilize the spine and take pressure off the nerves. Each direction, forward, backward, left, and right will get an angle of flexion measurement. This rating is a figure between 10% and 100%with a 100% rating being the worst possible determination that means that the individual has almost no capability to move any part of their spinal column. 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. Some examples of cervical conditions that are rated under this code include the following: Diagnostic Code 5237 Cervical Strain A torn tendon or muscle in the neck. Spinal fusion helps correct spinal deformities like a sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis). What are the VA Disability Ratings for Neck and Shoulder Pain? 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. Muscle guarding gone wrong can cause a number of disorders in your back. #Evidence #VAClaims #VAAppeals #Tips #VADisability #Veterans #VARating #vadecision #VAClaim. I am now going to have three . This injury can even require surgery to relieve the pain. You can also appeal this decision to fight for a higher VA disability rating for your neck pain. How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits April 26, 2023 Dear Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Moran, A veteran disabled in the service of our country Can I still apply for VA benefits even though I left the military years ago? Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) is a back condition in which an intervertebral disc or disc fragments are displaced at any level of the spine: lumbar, cervical, or thoracic. Is the veteran being examined during a flare-up? 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. Combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or. Intervertebral Disc Diseases Similar to generative disc disease, these conditions affect the discs between vertebrae, causing pain in the back, arms, neck, and legs. Other Conditions That Come With Fused Vertebrae All Rights Reserved. This is done to decrease the damage, pain, and discomfort that a disease or injury causes. Spinal Cord Injuries These are very serious injuries that can result in a loss of motion or feeling in the body. VA Claims Insider Submits Statement to Senate VA Committee: How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits. Yes, Back Pain is a VA disability. The VA requires the following to establish an injurys connection to military service: You will need to ensure that you have the medical nexus as it is absolutely necessary to establish the connection. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Although this benefits some veterans, it also increases the amount of evidence required to link the pain to the in-service event. Once they have your records, a doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms. We can look them over to see what other options you have. Like your legs tense up when youre about to land from a parachute jump, or the way your stomach tenses when a truck or an airplane is about to land. Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation. These secondary conditions can be claimed for additional benefits if the veteran is able to prove that they resulted from the primary condition. Theyll also look at whether or not youre still experiencing pain despite having undergone surgery. 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 greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or, muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; or, vertebral body fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height. Maybe. The combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or. Some of the common neck injuries which VA will cover include the following: Disc Injuries These are injuries that affect the discs between vertebrae in the spine. Rather, they are added using VA math. This occurs when a veteran is unable to perform with the same strength and endurance as before the condition. Additionally, thoracolumbar combined movement should be less than 120, and cervical combined movement should measure less than 170. Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. VA Claims Insider Submits Statement to Senate VA Committee: How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits, Top 72 Federal Veteran Benefits From A to Z (2024 Edition). Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. yet assertive representation for our clients. When determining your rating, the VA will consider your entire medical history, not just your spinal fusion surgery. You can also apply in person at your nearest Social Security office. This is a common side effect of severe arthritis in the spine. You might be able to lean right and left 30 just fine. Twisting at the hips is also counted in your movement as part of your thoracolumbar spine. Several disabling back conditions can qualify a veteran for VA disability benefits. #20. Veterans are exposed to numerous events which can cause lasting neck injuries. #6. Since symptoms can improve and worsen over time, veterans are encouraged to have their rating re-evaluated every couple of years as ratings are not permanent. 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 of the entire thoracolumbar spine. If the shock absorbers are removed you wont have space to pinch nerves. You might wonder whether or not a veteran can get increased disability benefits from the VA due to spinal fusion surgery. As with most back disabilities, the VA puts a lot on the level of flexion you have. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. 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. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 If you believe you can make an argument to change VAs mind, it may be worthwhile to pursue a different decision. 20% VA Disability Rating for Cervicalgia: Can I Get a Secondary VA Rating to Neck and Back Conditions? Hill & Ponton P.A. VA Disability Ratings for Neck and Shoulder Pain range from 10% to 100%, with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Just like driving a truck with bad shocks, that bumpy ride on your back wears out the equipment really quick. Your backbones might be fused together or about to be because of ankylosis, but you at least look normal when you stand or sit. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 If your back does this when you move, your back is guarding. Muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis. This means your mid and upper back is frozen in an unfavorable position. If you believe you deserve a higher rating than the VA has given you, you have the right to appeal their decision. Similar to VA compensation for most other conditions, service connection requires three separate pieces of evidence. If your VA claim is denied and you believe a mistake was made, you are allowed to appeal the decision. VA Ratings for Spondylosis. Essentially, the more limited you are, the higher your rating will be. Remember, if you have any questions, we encourage you to contact us for support. They both refer to your back being stuck in a way that you cant move around. Its usually performed when other treatment options, like medication and physical therapy, have failed to provide relief. That means, depending on your pain and other symptoms, you can have full movement without rotation in your lower back and still be eligible for a 10% VA rating. Neck injuries can even be caused by sitting still for too long. They keep you informed. Contact us today for a free review of your case to make sure you are getting treated fairly by the VA. Well foot the bill for our fees and only charge part of your back pay and the fees after we win your case. 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. While many conditions can be caused by cervical strain or neck pain alone, its important to check with a doctor because other conditions may also be linked to more serious health issues. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Whiplash Whiplash happens when the neck experiences a forceful back and forth motion that causes lasting pain. Getting Disability for Cervical Neck Fusion You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits for your cervical neck fusion or impairments. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! #19. Repetitive Strains These injuries can cause aching, cramping, pain, throbbing, and tingling in the upper back. 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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