What Is The Va Disability Rating For Chronic Lower Back Pain

The ratings for this condition may range from 10 to 100.

What is the va disability rating for chronic lower back pain. 100 Frequent episodes with constitutional symptoms. 10 forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees. So veterans dont receive a VA disability rating for chronic pain specifically. In other words VA assigns ratings based on the functional impact from the service-connected condition.

Of course a limited range of motion is not the only way to get VA disability for back problems. Ratings between 10 and 40 are given in part based on your ability to bend forward and move in the other 5 directions. As with most medical conditions the VA disability rating for back pain depends on a. Instead the VA looks at the symptoms caused by the chronic pain and one or more of them must be ratable For example if a veterans chronic pain causes her to feel sad or hopeless and her doctor diagnoses her with depression the VA will look at the rating requirements for mental health disorders.

VA does not have a specific diagnostic code or rating criteria for chronic pain. Ratings between 50 and 100 are based on the level of ankylosing spondylitis present. What is chronic back pain. VA defines it as forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees.

Ruling overturns nearly 20 years of VA rating decisions. This is because the VA does not have a specific diagnostic code for chronic pain. If the hip pain is due to osteoarthritis VA will assign a rating according to 38 CFR 471a Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System Diagnostic Code 5003. So if your back disability significantly limits your ability to bend at the waist you could qualify for a 20 percent rating or higher.

The chronic pain syndrome VA rating isnt always straightforward. Of the pelvis vertebrae or extending into major joints or with multiple localization or with long history of intractability and debility anemia amyloid liver changes or other continuous constitutional symptoms. For example oftentimes a veterans chronic pain will cause depression. Okay lets jump into some important definitions first because these principles are critical to understand and may affect your final VA disability rating for back pain.

Rating 5000 Osteomyelitis acute subacute or chronic. Chronic pain doesnt have a VA diagnostic code for determining a disability rating. Get a medical diagnosis or something to prove that you do have back pain. First you must prove to the VA rater that your back pain has a clear NEXUS or service-connection.

Technically the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. Or combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees. While there is no VA disability rating schedule for chronic pain disorder you can approximate the effects of all your service-connected disabilities through the secondary service-connected disability doctrine. A 20 percent rating requires your flexion to be pretty limited.

To receive VA disability benefits for chronic pain the symptoms resulting must be ratable. 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. Under this procedure you can include claims for secondary disabling conditions that have a nexus to a primary disability. In order to receive VA disability compensation for chronic pain the symptoms caused by the chronic pain disorder must be ratable.

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims may have a major effect on the outcome of many veterans disability claims. A recent ruling by the US. In addition Back Pain is a common secondary VA disability claim especially Radiculopathy secondary to back conditions or back pain. VA looks at the flexion that you have at your waist and whether is is limited as a result of your back disability.