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If a doctor doesnt use a goniometer to measure your ROM, the VA will not consider the results. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Trouble walking, and loss of bowel or bladder control may also result. Spinal stenosis can be a difficult disability to deal with because of the breadth and variety of symptoms you may experience. Finally, the general VA disability ratings table for spinal injuries and diseases allows ratings based on muscle guarding, muscle spasm, or tenderness in your back. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. For example, 5241 spinal fusion VA rating and 5238 spinal stenosis VA rating are calculated entirely on the range of motion (ROM) of your back even though spinal fusion and spinal stenosis are very different conditions. So if a Veteran has traumatic arthritis in his spine, the final diagnostic code would appear as 5010-5003. for L3 -L4 L4-L5 L5- S1 in the past they are rating as post operative residuals of . Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. It is rated under another diagnostic group. For example: Suppose you were diagnosed with whiplash as a result of a Humvee accident while you were in the service. A single veteran with no dependents and a total disability rating of 40% would receive $627.61 per month, as of 2020. Lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in compromise of the cauda equina 1.17 Reconstructive surgery or surgical arthrodesis of a major weight-bearing joint 1.18 Abnormality of a major joint(s) in any extremity . Become an All-Access Member to access this page, other exclusive content, the ability to our Military Disability Experts, course discounts, and more! This test results in six measurements taken while moving the neck for the cervical spine and six measurements taken while moving the back for the lumbar spine. Errors are frequently made when rating conditions. General VA Disability Compensation Benefits Claims Forums . These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. For example, if the cervical spine ROM measurements are 15, 30, 0, 30, 45, and 45, the total ROM would be 165. This type of rejection can sometimes be overcome if you can point to a specific incident that worsened your condition. ). Updated: August 3, 2020. document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) PTSD Lawyers | Berry Law Firm. What is the diagnostic code for traumatic arthritis? you have shown that there is was an incident in service and that you have a current disability, When the VA awards service-connection for a condition/disease, it has to determine how much to award for the condition/disease. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Some of the most common disabilities Veterans have are the result of injuries to their back, especially those related to the spine. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense guidelines are based upon the best information available at the time of publication. If the VA determines your spinal stenosis is service-connected, you will receive a disability rating between 0% and 100%. Your VA doctor may conclude that your spinal stenosis is service-connected because of this pre-existing whiplash and disk herniation. Appellant. Registration is FREE of charge! In a February 2007 rating decision, the RO granted service connection for spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. If radiculopathy is caused by a low back condition, the individuals will feel the symptoms in the lower extremities (thigh, calf, foot). If there is painful motion, a 10% rating will be assigned. All rights reserved. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in New York, New York. For a Veteran to get a disability service connected, they must: If a Veteran can prove all three elements listed above, they should be given a disability rating by the department of Veterans affairs. When your medical disability occurred during your service, it is almost always presumed to be service-connected. The most straightforward pathway to fulfilling this criterion is a diagnosis of spinal stenosis in your military records. 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. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the stenosis and which nerves are affected. To qualify for a 50 percent rating, a veteran would need to have "unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine." These complications of stenosis are called. 4.30 Convalescent ratings. ATTORNEY FOR THE . Acute, Subacute, or Chronic Diseases Prosthetic Implants and Resurfacing 1 Also entitled to special monthly compensation. I bought a home. In severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis. Fill out the short form below to contact us. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. The VA will use a series of diagnostic codes for areas of the spine. For example, if spinal stenosis causes nerve pain or other issues in the peripheral nerves of the arms, hands, legs, or feet, you may be able to obtain a higher VA disability rating through an independently ratable peripheral nerve disability. This can be demonstrated by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited movement of the affected body part. Your spinal stenosis may be accompanied by other back conditions, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, ankylosis or ankylosing spondylitis. We have updated our Privacy Policy. If left untreated, spinal stenosis may cause permanent numbness, weakness, balance problems, incontinence, and/or paralysis. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! I had been fighting for my benefits since 1980 by myself and I managed to get 50% rating. Spinal stenosis can cause symptoms throughout the body. There are two types of spinal stenosis treatment: surgical and non-surgical. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. An unfavorable position means your spine is locked in a position that is something other than vertical. Other causes of spinal stenosis may include: Arguably the most important part of the VA disability claims process is establishing service connection. Errors are frequently made when rating conditions. Veterans looking to receive VA disability for spinal stenosis often develop the disability due to an injury to the spine. Many people with spinal stenosis and other back injuries experience anxiety, depression, and substance abuse problems. 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. we represent clients nationwide. 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. I was medically retired from active duty Army in January of 2016 with a rating of 80% for a variety of things. Table II - Ratings for Multiple Losses of Extremities With Dictator's Rating Code and 38 CFR Citation Note. 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. Other back impairments have a maximum schedular rating of 60 percent or lower. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. VA Ratings For Spinal Arthritis & Back Pain. If radiculopathy is caused by a neck condition, the symptoms will be felt in the shoulder and can travel down the arm and into the hand. Its possible for rheumatoid arthritis to be rated under diagnostic code 5003 like degenerative and traumatic arthritis. The RO assigned an initial 10 percent rating for the disability, effective June 13, 1994. The VA disability rating for spinal stenosis will be based on both individual ROM measurements and the total ROM measurement. The VA awards disability ratings for incapacitating episodes as follows: You may be asked to take a compensation & pension exam (C&P exam). A fair VA disability rating for spinal stenosis can be difficult to obtain. Secondary service connection occurs when a service-connected disability causes another disability. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Under the VA regulations, you may request an extra-schedular rating for your disability. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve could then result in a 60 percent disability rating according to the social security administration. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. Spinal stenosis of the cervical and thoracic regions may contribute to neurologic injury, such as development of a central spinal cord syndrome following spinal trauma. Favorable position means your spine is locked but more or less vertical, so you can still sit at a desk chair, for example. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. Yes, you can. Spinal discs act as cushions between your vertebrae. Contact Info Is applicant currently receiving Social Security benefits? Spinal stenosis can arise from both degenerative conditions (such as arthritis, bulging discs, and herniated discs) and physical injury, such as bone fragments, dislocated vertebrae, or swollen tissues. Getting Veterans (VA) Disability for Spinal Injuries, Radiculopathy VA Disability Ratings and Benefits, VA Disability Ratings for Neck Pain Explained. which may qualify you for a higher rating. It can cause muscle weakness and pain or cramping extending from the buttocks down through the leg. If your spine is locked in an unfavorable position, you may qualify for a relatively high disability rating as high as 100%. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Our monthly newsletter features about important and up-to-date veterans' law news, keeping you informed about the changes that matter. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes destruction of the joints in the body. It results in chronic pain, numbness, and weakness in your body. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lawyers 6940 O St, Suite 400 Lincoln, NE 68510. Flexion 45 degrees, OR combined ROM 340 degrees, Flexion 90 degrees, OR combined ROM 240 degrees, Flexion between 30 and 45 degrees, OR combined ROM between 175 and 340 degrees, Flexion between 60 and 90 degrees, OR combined ROM between 150 and 240 degrees, Flexion between 15 and 35 degrees, OR combined ROM 170%, Flexion between 30 and 60 degrees OR combined ROM of 120%. Spinal stenosis is typically diagnosed with x-rays or MRIs of the spine showing a narrowing of the spinal canal. However, generally speaking, symptoms may include the following: Most often, spinal stenosis is caused by overuse or general wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis. . I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction with spinal issues and VA ratings. .. Jan 17, 2012 #2. One common cause of foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy is a bulging or herniated disc. The three elements needed to make a successful service connection claim include: When assessing your disability claims, VA examiners will look at your medical records during your time in the military and for a period afterward for evidence of a service connection. For example, if your spinal stenosis is caused by a bulging disc, dislocated vertebrae, or bone fragments, you may be able to identify an accidental fall, vehicle collision, or any other physical injury incurred during your military service that worsened your condition. 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. have the greatest impact on the veterans ability to work. 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. According to Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space where the nerves run through your spine, causing pain by putting extra pressure on these spinal nerves. However, the VA still rates degenerative arthritis of the spine under the criteria listed for diagnostic code 5003.
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