Trouble walking, and loss of bowel or bladder control may also result. For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). To qualify for disability because of spinal stenosis, you must meet several requirements: The stenosis must be in your lumbar region. However, the VA still rates degenerative arthritis of the spine under the criteria listed for diagnostic code 5003. Many people with spinal stenosis and other back injuries experience anxiety, depression, and substance abuse problems. It may result in a higher rating, and therefore a greater monthly disability compensation amount. 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 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. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Basically, the VA understands that the Veteran would not have developed sleep apnea if they didnt get PTSD while in service. Causes can include herniated or bulging spinal discs. The VA rating for degenerative disc disease typically is 20%, despite how much pain the condition may cause. 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. for L3 -L4 L4-L5 L5- S1 in the past they are rating as post operative residuals of . Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Numbness or tingling in a hand, arm, foot, or leg, Pain or cramping in one or both legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk, which usually eases when you bend forward or sit. You should see a doctor if you are experiencing severe back pain, weakness, numbness or loss of control of an extremity, foot drop, bowel and/or bladder problems, or numbness in your saddle area. An unfavorable position means your spine is locked in a position that is something other than vertical. That is, they get it wrong more than half the time. In that case, a lumbar spine and cervical spine frozen in an unfavorable position is given a VA disability rating of 100%. 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. VA Ratings For Spinal Arthritis & Back Pain. For example, PTSD can lead to sleep apnea. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Given this variety of symptoms, it is easy to understand how spinal stenosis can be misdiagnosed. If two or more major OR minor groups are affected a 20% rating will be assigned if the arthritis is occasionally incapacitating. THE ISSUE. If your spine is frozen due to spinal stenosis, meaning that you have no Range Of Motion, you may qualify for a relatively high VA disability rating. To collect VA disability compensation benefits, you must show that your spinal stenosis disability claim was caused or aggravated by your military service. Although this type of arthritis is most common in the small joints of the hands and feet, it can occur in any joint. Spinal muscles: Sacrospinalis (erector spinae and its prolongations in thoracic and cervical regions). Typically, this would be established by medical records from your time in the military showing that your condition worsened. If severe enough, anxiety and depression arising from a service-related condition may also qualify for an additional disability rating. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. The VA awards disability ratings for incapacitating episodes as follows: You may be asked to take a compensation & pension exam (C&P exam). Spinal discs act as cushions between your vertebrae. Additional medical appliances may be required. Some joints are referred to as major joints, while others are referred to as minor joints. For example, fractured and/or dislocated vertebrae can lead to pain and weakness in the arms, hips, shoulders, etc. The diagnostic code for traumatic arthritis is 5010. An increase at this point for a spine disability requires additional loss of range of motion, ankylosis, or . Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. 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%. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. 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. Spinal stenosis can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the location of the spinal stenosis and the compressed nerve. Berry Law gets Veterans the disability compensation they earned. The disability rating may be even lower depending on the segment of the spine that is frozen. Vertebral fractures and dislocations (diagnostic code 5235). In a February 2007 rating decision, the RO granted service connection for spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Spinal stenosis is a form of degenerative disc disease. REPRESENTATION. The rating assigned under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis depends on how many joint groups are affected and whether there is painful motion. A. found that the VA processed the majority of the 62,500 spinal injury claims decided in the first half of 2018. So, they compensate them for the disability on a secondary basis. 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. So, spinal disabilities focus on the lack of mobility or range of motion. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. If you believe you may have been wrongly denied benefits, you may benefit from the services of a VA disability lawyer. The VA assigns rating percentages based on the frequency of incapacitating episodes. If a doctor doesnt use a goniometer to measure your ROM, In addition to the ROM measurements, the general rating criteria for spinal involves whether the cervical and/or thoracolumbar spine is frozen in a favorable vs. unfavorable position. Yes No you viewed to avoid repetition. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. This metric is used in calculating your VA disability rating. Become an All-Access Member to access this page, other exclusive content, the ability to our Military Disability Experts, course discounts, and more! Whether from the physical rigors of combat, from the psychosomatic effects of stress and anxiety on the body, or from other factors, many soldiers can leave their time in the military with a wide range of physical . Depending on what joint is affected, there will be an identifying diagnostic code assigned to the condition. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. Service-connected disabilities are disabilities that manifested during your service, regardless of when your diagnosis occurred, or was diagnosed prior to your service and was worsened by your service. These are periods of acute pain severe enough for a doctor to proscribe bed rest. Registration is FREE of charge! The most straightforward pathway to fulfilling this criterion is a diagnosis of spinal stenosis in your military records. If two or more major OR minor groups are affected a 20% rating will be assigned if the arthritis is occasionally incapacitating. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. If your service-related stenosis causes a secondary condition, that condition would be rated separately by the VA. About VA disability ratings. Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions or extensions of muscles. You may also qualify for a 100% rating if your back injury renders you unemployable. These exams are called comprehensive preventive health evaluations (CPHE) or wellness checks., The VA routinely mishandles spinal injury claims. Another way to connect your disability to your service is to show that you had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis prior to your service, and the condition worsened during your service. When it occurs in the cervical spine (the neck and upper section of the back), symptoms may include pain, muscle spasm and weakness, numbness, and tingling in the neck, hands, arms, legs, and feet. I was medically retired from active duty Army in January of 2016 with a rating of 80% for a variety of things. 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. For example, if rheumatoid arthritis of the spine results in pain with motion, the condition will be rated according to the criteria set forth in 5003 as described above. Yes No Does applicant expect to be out of work for at least 12 months? The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Because the symptoms of spinal stenosis are not limited to back pain and ROM, you can investigate whether there are alternate options for obtaining a fair VA disability rating. When pursuing a VA disability rating for back pain, its important to know your options. As you can see, ROM measurements play a significant role in rating spinal conditions. The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. These measurements are taken while bending the neck and back forward and backward, tilting the neck and back from size to side, and rotating the neck and back to each side. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. The spine is considered as a minor joint. The latter two will show whether soft tissue may be impinging or invading the spinal cord area. You can file a disability claim for any secondary symptoms or conditions caused by your service-connected degenerative disc disease. What is the diagnostic code for traumatic arthritis? If you experienced a back injury during active duty, or an injury that later contributed to back pain, you may be eligible for disability benefits. For example, if your disability requires frequent hospitalization or substantially interferes with your ability to earn a living, you may request a special disability rating from the VA. Our VA Disability Lawyers talk about SMC (Special Monthly Compensation). Ratings will fall between 0% and 100% disability. Extraschedular VA Disability Ratings 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.