It will also consider how much pain you experience and the effect of the condition on your everyday life. Under the new SSA listing, degenerative disc disease is categorized under 1.15, Disorders of the skeletal spine resulting in compromise of a nerve root(s). For instance, if you have problems with your hip or knee joints, you may not be able to stand or walk for long, but you may be able to do a sedentary job that allows you to sit most of the day. Therefore, VA must determine if the veteran is eligible for a rating higher than the ones set forth by the rating schedule. Were here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. The https:// ensures that you're connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely. Radiculopathy is a medical condition in which the nerves are compressed or irritated in the lower back [1]. Degeneration also promotes tears or cracks in the discs outer layers, causing bulging or ruptured discs and other serious physical limitations. 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. Veterans who have less than a 100% rating for joint pain or osteoarthritis may be able to increase their rating by having each joint considered individually. If you have a disability rating of 10 percent, you'll receive $165.92 a month, and with a rating of 20 percent, you'll get $327.99. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. However, the Court ruled in Saunders that veterans can receive VA disability for pain alone without an underlying diagnosis, as long as they satisfy the other two prongs required for service connection: 1.) Veterans suffering from more severe symptoms have been rated higher by the VA in some cases. Its possible to increase a rating for rheumatoid arthritis to 100% when there is sufficient medical evidence that your condition has become completely incapacitating. Why Hire CCK for Your VA Disability Appeal? Degenerative spine conditions may arise due to a persons history of musculoskeletal disorders or arthritis, a strenuous occupation or lifestyle, or an injury that sets off the degenerative process. VA rates cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions under 38 C.F.R. Conditions and injuries are organized into rating schedules, which get translated into percentages that represent what percent of your ability to work you've lost. Many veterans develop their arthritis later in life as the cartilage wears down. For example, DDD can lead to other conditions among . However, if you have a satisfactory range of motion but there is still pain, the VA will look to X-ray evidence for evidence of arthritis and assign a 10% or 20% disability rating. Many factorscan lead to DDD, including heavy lifting, family history of spine problems, or spine injury. 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. In this case, you'd have trouble doing a lot of jobs, but you wouldn't meet one of the above listings. Extraschedular ratings are assigned when the rating criteria does not accurately reflect a veterans level of disability. DDD can trigger other conditions including radiculopathy, herniated discs, neurological impairments, spinal stenosis, and more. You may also have developed a secondary condition that should have been factored into the rating. Social Securitys own statistics show that most claimants who persevere with the help of an experienced attorney are found to be disabled at the next stages of the processwhen proof of disability is based on a combination of medical and vocational factors at Step 4 and Step 5. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Categories: The bilateral factor takes into consideration that a disability affecting both knees (or arms, legs, etc.) VA often denies service connection for degenerative disc disease based on an examiners finding that a veterans condition is due to normal wear and tear and the natural progression of aging rather than their time in service. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. The first two eligibility requirements are: If you pass these requirements, the next hurdle of the 5-Step Evaluation is Step 3 Does your disability meet or equal a medical listing? a nerve root of both cervical and lumbar spines. It is much more Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. VA rates joint problems based on specific criteria and measurements of the range of motion in that joint. In addition, there are times when VA can rate veterans outside of the rating schedule. Most Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience & Their Ratings, Most Common Back Pain VA Claims Among Veterans, 3 Common Back Conditions Veterans Experience, VA Disability Ratings for Pes Planus (Flat Feet), A current diagnosis of DDD by a medical professional; and. This is a higher rate than among the civilian population, and it is one of the leading causes of physical disability. document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Access Our Disability Insurance Policies eBook. Degenerative joint disease (DJD) causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues brought on by the wearing down of the protective cartilage at the ends of the bones. A family-owned business since 1985, our lawyers have helped thousands of veterans who are entitled to disability benefits get the highest disability rating they deserve for their service-connected joint pain and arthritis. Youll see your VA combined disability rating and a list of your individual disability ratings. 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. Many cases of degenerative joint disease don't meet the criteria of the above listings. If you have degenerative joint disease in your spine or neck, you need to have spinal stenosis (narrowing) or nerve root compression to qualify under the spinal disorder listings. Social Security will compare what you can still do with your prior job skills and education. can result in further difficulties. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. This can be done by filing: You may also be able to file an appeal within one year of the VAs decision on your claim. A4: We decide claims involving musculoskeletal impairments primarily at step 5 of the sequential evaluation process where we consider a claimants residual functional capacity (RFC), age, education, and work experience. If youre a veteran who suffers from joint pain or arthritis, you know how debilitating it is and the severe impact your condition can have on your daily life. Military activities, like repeated heavy lifting, can result in degenerative disc disease over time. A lumbosacral strain diagnostic code is 5237. In this way, your DDD was caused by your service-connected knee condition, warranting secondary service connection. Instability of the Knee: The VA rates instability of the knee under diagnostic code 5257. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. 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. You may be owed compensation. Rheumatoid arthritis often worsens over time. It is very common to receive only a 10 or . *If you have already received a rating for Limited Motion of a joint, then you cannot receive a rating for arthritis in that joint. If youre a veteran and have been injured or have developed a disability, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. Note: This tool doesnt include ratings for any disability claims that are still in process. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. It takes a 100% rating from the VA to determine whether a veteran is completely incapable of working. Today we share important tips about how the Social Security Administration, disability insurance companies, and the Department of Veterans Affairs evaluate these claims. If you have multiple disability ratings, we use them to calculate your combined VA disability rating. How Can I Increase My VA Disability Rating for Joint Pain and Arthritis? use either arm or hand to begin, sustain, and finish work. they provide a medical nexus linking their pain to the occurrence in service. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Winning a disability claim for degenerative disc disease always calls for submitting thorough medical evidence, proof of ongoing treatment from qualified doctors, and often undergoing a functional capacity evaluation. Degenerative disc disease is found in the SSA Listing 1.00 Musculoskeletal Disorders. The spine consists of boney structures called vertebrae that support the body and form the corridor through which the spinal cord passes. Winning your Social Security Disability Claim for Degenerative Disc Disease. Although there are different diagnostic codes, they are all rated using the same criteria. Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA*: Rheumatoid arthritis can receive the following disability ratings from the VA: Arthritis is one of the main disabilities facing todays veterans and the VA has many resources and benefits available to you if you are suffering from arthritis. What Is The Maximum Disability Rating For Degenerative Disc Disease. Marc Whitehead has been practicing law for over 27 years in Houston, focusing exclusively on disability law. Medical evidence showing the link between your service-connected condition and secondary condition. For instance, you might have to use a cane and have a lot of pain walking and standing, but you don't have a documented need for two canes or a walker. A VA disability rating for knee tendonitis or joint pain may also be based on your range of motion during your VA disability knee exam. Your degenerative arthritis VA rating is based on the number of joint/joint groups that have a limited range of motion.
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