The more you are immobilized, the more your VA rating will increase. Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) and VA Disability Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Foramen are the openings between discs. I have SC for degenerative disc disease in my cervical and lumbar spine, rated at 20% each. Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine up to 85 degrees or of the cervical spine up to 40 degrees. 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. The important part is that the veteran proves the pain is not merely subjective. You can enlist the help of an attorney or disability advocate. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! It may take six months to a year to fully recover from the surgery. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 To establish service connection for spinal fusion, the VA requires the following three elements: Service connection can be granted for a disability resulting from an injury during service, an incident during service that aggravated an existing condition, or exposure to a known hazard during service. 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. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. The quick and intense movement can traumatize the surrounding muscles and tendons, resulting in cervical strain. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Its imperative to understand these ratings as they determine the benefits you are entitled to. Forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or. The VA rates Cervicalgia under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, General Rating Formula for the Spine as follows. When reviewing claims for spinal fusions, the VA will look at things like X-rays, MRIs, medical records, and independent medical opinions from treating physicians. You can also apply in person at your nearest Social Security office. Your back can even go into an abnormal contour, which simply means its bending in ways it isnt supposed to. You want to see a doctor with a good knowledge of VA disability ratings. Spinal muscles: Sacrospinalis (erector spinae and its prolongations in thoracic and cervical regions). Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. 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. In most cases, the spinal cord is damaged but still intact so the individual merely loses some However, the spinal cord can sometimes be severed completely or traumatized by gunshot wounds, serious falls, and car accidents. To start the Social Security disability application, you can go online at www.SSA.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. Most veterans with ankylosis dont get much over 50%. This occurs when a veteran is unable to perform with the same strength and endurance as before the condition. Veterans must present a current diagnosis, a document detailing an in-service event, and a medical nexus that connects the current diagnosis to the in-service event or cause. General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuiries of the Spine.
