Va Rating For Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

September 6 2018 ORDER Entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbosacral and thoracic spine strain degenerative disc disease degenerative joint disease is dismissed.

Va rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to rate musculoskeletal conditions which includes back conditions like degenerative arthritis. This occurs when your level of disability is beyond what the rating criteria typically reflects. To qualify for a 50 percent rating a veteran would need to have unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine Because of that qualifying for a 50 percent rating for a thoracolumbar spine disability is very difficult. The C6-C7 level is the most common and the C5-C6 level the next most common level for cervical IVDS.

Lumbar degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and Lumbar spine intervertebral disc extrusion at L5-S1. The present VA ratings assigned for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities when combined See 38 CFR. If your degenerative disc disease is severe enough the ultimate goal is to receive a 100 disability rating. The first one is to have one or more disabilities that reach the 100 disability rating.

I am currently in the IDES process at Fort Campbell have received my unfit memo and currently awaiting VA ratings. My CP exams went well with the. Technically the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. To increase a degenerative disc disease VA rating its essential to consider the secondary conditions that arose as a result of the degenerative disc disease.

When I retired in 1999 I claimed back issues and VA rated me at 0 but service connected for Degenerative Joint Disease and Lumbar Spine. This is the term used to reference middle or lower back pain. 423 are rated as 70 percent disabling. The VA rating for degenerative disc disease typically is 20 despite how much pain the condition may cause.

Generally speaking veterans will attend a Compensation Pension CP examination and the examiner will measure how far they can bend forwards backwards and side to side using a goniometer. While the VA diagnostic code has a maximum rating of 50 it is possible to get a greater rating if you can prove how your spinal condition limits your function and your life. Some of the conditions included in this category are degenerative arthritis traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. How the VA Decides Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease The VA classifies degenerative disc disease as a musculoskeletal disorder of the spine.

I have two unfitting conditions. The other way is to receive the rating through TDIU. All but 10 of lumbar IVDS is at the L4-L5 or L5-S1 level. Lumbar IVDS accounts for 62 of all disc disease.

Paraplegia and quadriplegia due to a spinal cord injury or disorder are rated in terms of the loss of function and their effect on the veterans ability to earn a living wage. How does the VA Rate Degenerative Disc Disease. There are two methods to use. The VA can assign you a disability rating outside of the normal range.

The VA considers upper back pain in the same category as neck pain. This might be the case for a veterans degenerative disc disease as the highest schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5003 is only 20 percent. There was evidence of treatment in my medical files. Unfortunately spinal injuries tend to receive low disability ratings despite the fact that they can be quite debilitating.

To receive an extraschedular disability rating under 38 CFR 3321b1 for degenerative disc disease the following requirements must be met. 3102 43 47 421 440 445 459 471a Diagnostic Codes 5235-5242 5243 2018. VA ratings for Radiculopathy of the left lower and right lower extremities are typically rated under diagnostic code 8620. Back injuries are a common complaint after military service.

Disability due to diseases such as arthritis degenerative joint or disc disease or osteoporosis that were incurred in or are the result of military service may be compensated as well. Typically VA uses the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine which is largely based on a veterans range of motion. For example if you have forward flexion of the lumbar spine at 30 degrees or less your spine condition will be rated at 40 percent. In determining benefits the VA refers to the back as the thoracolumbar spine.

If the forward flexion of your lumbar spine is between 30-60 degrees however you could see a rating of just 20 percent. From October 29 2013 the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis intervertebral disc syndrome IVDS and degenerative disc disease DDD have not been met. This rating schedule considers factors like range of motion when awarding a specific percent rating. Without these outside documents you are significantly decreasing your chance of winning your VA disability for back problems claim.

So individuals with a low range of motion and other severe symptoms will receive a higher VA disability rating for DDD. The VA has a separate rating system for these conditions. What is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. 1155 5107 2012.