spinal stenosis va disability rating spinal stenosis va disability rating

The cervical spine (neck) and the thoracolumbar spine (low back) are rated according to the following criteria: 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 125 and 240 degrees, Flexion between 15 and 35 degrees, OR combined ROM 170 degrees, Flexion between 30 and 65 degrees, OR combined ROM 120 degrees, Flexion 15 degrees, OR entire cervical spine is frozen in a favorable position, Entire cervical spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, Flexion 30 degrees, OR entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in a favorable position, Entire thoracolumbar spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, Entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. Some of the most common disabilities Veterans have are the result of injuries to their back, especially those related to the spine. For example, fractured and/or dislocated vertebrae can lead to pain and weakness in the arms, hips, shoulders, etc. Get Directions. I was injured in Iraq on Nov 19 ,2007, I filed my claims when I got home from Iraq, the V/A called me yesterday and told me that I got a 60% rating for. 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. But it can also be a result of a spinal injury. In all other cases, the ROM measurements of the lumbar spine are rated separately from the ROM measurements of the cervical spine. Later you develop a spinal stenosis in your neck (cervical) area. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. If the entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position, the disability rating may be as high as 100%. Extraschedular VA Disability Ratings Entire cervical spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. The rating will largely depend on whether you have lost range of motion as a result of stenosis. Diagnostic Code 5238 Cervical Spine Stenosis The spinal canal narrowing for one reason or another Diagnostic Code 5242 Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine Pain from the degeneration of the cervical vertebrae This rating criterion is primarily based on a range of motion measurements. These only occur in extraordinary cases in which the VA ratings formula does not account for the effects or consequences of your disability. Spinal stenosis will cause pain in different areas of the body including the neck, lower and middle back, your buttocks and legs. Spinal conditions can cause nerve problems as well. Severe paralysis of long periods can be shown by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited functionality of the affected body part. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Even if your diagnosis of spinal stenosis occurred after your honorable discharge, you may still be eligible for VA disability benefits if your spinal stenosis arose during your time in the military, but was misdiagnosed. Although this type of arthritis is most common in the small joints of the hands and feet, it can occur in any joint. For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. During the months after surgery, veterans are entitled to a 100% disability rating so they can recover from the procedure. Muscle guarding occurs when muscles react to prevent pain or discomfort. These two types of spinal stenosis can be summarized as follows: Some people with spinal stenosis do not exhibit symptoms. A TDIU is an award of increased compensation. Mayo Clinic notes that there are two different types of spinal stenosis: While occasionally a person suffering from spinal stenosis will show zero symptoms, often Veterans seeking VA disability compensation for spinal stenosis will display one or more of the following symptoms: Cervical Stenosis Symptoms Numbness or tingling in your arm or leg, weakness in your arm or leg, problems walking, neck pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. If two or more major OR minor groups are affected a 20% rating will be assigned if the arthritis is occasionally incapacitating. means your spine is locked in a position that is something other than vertical. Your Condition Must be Connected to Your Service to Obtain a VA Disability Rating Spinal Stenosis, When it occurs in the cervical spine (the neck and upper section of the back). Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. 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. The Board notes that by rating decision dated December 2005 the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and radiculopathy was evaluated as 60 percent disabling, effective August 23, 1999. Examples of a few disability ratings for spinal stenosis are: 20%: A 20% disability rating for spinal stenosis means you have more than 30 degrees forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine, but not greater than 60 . Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. Spinal stenosis can be a difficult disability to deal with because of the breadth and variety of symptoms you may experience. Back braces or corsets are $200 or more. 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). All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. For example, the specific code for degenerative arthritis of the spine is 5242. So if a Veteran has traumatic arthritis in his spine, the final diagnostic code would appear as 5010-5003. Already working with us? A single veteran with no dependents and a total disability rating of 40% would receive $627.61 per month, as of 2020. All but 10% of lumbar IVDS is at the L4-L5 or L5-S1 level. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Do you have a low back (lumbar) injury related to your military service? Spinal stenosis can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the location of the spinal stenosis and the compressed nerve. You may not notice at the onset, but the pain will evolve slowly over time. Spinal stenosis is a form of degenerative disc disease. 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. After recovery, the VA will re-evaluate their condition. It may also cause bladder and bowel issues. Spinal muscles: Sacrospinalis (erector spinae and its prolongations in thoracic and cervical regions). Fax: (757) 220-9451. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. These are periods of acute pain severe enough for a doctor to proscribe bed rest. Over time, you will attend additional annual exams at an area SCI Center. The following spinal conditions are all rated under the same general rating formula: The general rating formula that is used to rate the conditions listed above is mainly based on range of motion (ROM) measurements. In most cases, the medical listing will be insufficient. To collect VA disability compensation benefits, you must show that your spinal stenosis disability claim was caused or aggravated by your military service. This can be demonstrated by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited movement of the affected body part. Many people only think about their medical issues when applying for Social Security disability. We have updated our Privacy Policy. These complications of stenosis are called secondary conditions, which may qualify you for a higher rating. Your final VA rating for Degenerative Disc Disease depends upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of symptoms, including Painful Motion, Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM), and Functional Loss or Impairment. Traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury, excessive movement, or other physical trauma. If your spine is locked, but its in a favorable condition, your disability rating may be as low as 30% or 40%. You may also qualify for a 100% rating if your back injury renders you. Its never too late to apply for VA benefits. I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction with spinal issues and VA ratings. 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%. This metric is used in calculating your VA disability rating. 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. 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%. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. 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. It can cause muscle weakness and pain or cramping extending from the buttocks down through the leg. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. For example, a cervical spine with forward flexion of 15 produces a VA disability percentage of 30% and a lumbar spine with a total ROM of 120 produces a VA disability percentage of 20%, for an overall VA disability rating of 40%. Degenerative arthritis of the spine, sometimes referred to as facet joint osteoarthritis, causes a breakdown of the cartilage between the facet joints in the back of the spine. You could be entitled to $3,627 per month! Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? The latter two will show whether soft tissue may be impinging or invading the spinal cord area. Service-connected disabilities vary widely in severity and type: Some examples are the loss of a limb, migraines, and hypertension. 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. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense guidelines are based upon the best information available at the time of publication. To qualify for a 50 percent rating, a veteran would need to have "unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine." Also, the VA requires that all ROM measurements be taken with a goniometer. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. In such cases, the VA is able to consider certain, Once the VA has acknowledged that your disability is related to servicei.e. you viewed to avoid repetition. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. An. Markedly severe residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion following implantation of prosthesis 70 Moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain or limitation of motion 50 Minimum rating 30 5055 Knee replacement (prosthesis). A very common impairment caused by this nerve compression is sciatica. Yes, but you should talk to a VA Disability law attorney first. Getting Veterans (VA) Disability for Spinal Injuries, Radiculopathy VA Disability Ratings and Benefits, VA Disability Ratings for Neck Pain Explained. This disruption can cause strange sensations and loss of muscle control in the affected areas. However, military doctors and corpsmen may be reluctant to order an x-ray or MRI if they think a diagnosis can be made without one. Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the passages through which your nerves travel through your spine become narrow or partially blocked. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lawyers 6940 O St, Suite 400 Lincoln, NE 68510. Errors are frequently made when rating conditions. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 VA Ratings For Spinal Arthritis & Back Pain. Your spinal stenosis may cause or contribute to other medical conditions, as well. However, you may get a 100% VA disability rating for up to one year after serious back surgery, such as a spinal fusion. Given this variety of symptoms, it is easy to understand how spinal stenosis can be misdiagnosed. Oftentimes, spinal conditions will cause other conditions, and these conditions qualify a Veteran for another rating. Spinal Stenosis by itself means literally nothing, other than that you have a narrowing of the spinal canal at some point (which about 70% of adults have normally). Because there are technically two diagnostic codes associated with one condition, you would see the condition listed on rating decisions as 5242-5003. .. Jan 17, 2012 #2. For example, after a fall or motor vehicle accident, a military doctor may attribute leg and foot pain to a leg injury rather than spinal stenosis. The most straightforward pathway to fulfilling this criterion is a diagnosis of spinal stenosis in your military records. Pocket Card . Because there are technically, As mentioned above, many different joints are rated under the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis. Spinal stenosis is a type of back injury that a Veteran could develop after an in-service injury. If your condition meets the listing criteria, it will automatically be considered a disability. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. Most issues that cause temporary (not chronic) back pain receive a VA disability rating between 10%-40%. for L3 -L4 L4-L5 L5- S1 in the past they are rating as post operative residuals of . Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 About VA disability ratings. Vertebral fractures and dislocations (diagnostic code 5235). In most cases, foraminal stenosis is caused by gradual degeneration of the spine that happens as you age. I bought a home. A. found that the VA processed the majority of the 62,500 spinal injury claims decided in the first half of 2018. 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.