va disability for sciatica radiculopathy

However, the criteria listed here can also be subjective. If you have been honorably discharged and have joint or back pain, you can probably get the minimum 10% rating for a disability. Typically speaking, the maximum VA rating for peripheral neuropathy is 40%, but you may be entitled to more if your symptoms are severe and includes several of your limbs affected. Our certified VA Disability lawyer team works with doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists to work through your claim and make sure every inch is covered. If they can hear your bones rubbing together, joints popping, or your back cracking when you move it, make sure they record it in their report. Movement can be restricted not only because of pain in your neck but moving a certain way can make you lose feeling in your hands. Neuralgia of the sciatic nerve (sciatica). These terms, which the rating schedule uses, are highly subjective and vaguely defined. Notably, symptoms are serious pain, numbness, and tingling. Incontinence can also occur as a result. partial paralysis of the sciatic nerve, a 60% rating will be given. The rating for incomplete paralysis is than moderate, even if it is considered severe. Those suffering from sciatica will experience pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve which travels from the lower back down through the legs. In your physical exam, a health professional will look at your spinal range of motion, your balance, and posture. causes moderate symptoms, it is rated 20%. All Rights Reserved. 3 Tiers of Sciatica VA Disability Ratings and How To Apply If your sciatica is severe, you may also have to take an orthopedic exam. Work with some experienced VA lawyers to make sure you get all that you deserve on your first application. To succeed with this service-connection claim, a vet must show a current medical diagnosis of radiculopathy that is linked to the in-service occurrence of the radiculopathy, or an in-service incident that caused or aggravated the radiculopathy. These do not often get involved with bulging discs or radiculopathy, but they can be injured, dislocated, or affected by arthritis. That is only the average, but even if you start applying with a 10% now, youll be in great shape to increase your rating to 60% later. The angle of your flexion for your cervical and thoracolumbar spine areas determines what your rating will be. Given that radiculopathy is commonly caused by back conditions, it is typically service-connected on a secondary basis. Youll need evidence of trouble at work if you want to move this claim closer to a 100% TDIU rating. For radiculopathy specifically, youll be rated on neurological symptoms. When the bones in your back lose their cushioning, they rub together and may pinch a nerve. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. If you are suffering from total paralysis, This benefit compensates veterans at the 100 percent level, even if their combined disability rating does not equal 100 percent. Please complete this form to send us your message. Often we have clients with 20% ratings for back disabilities who could qualify for higher ratings for their serious impairments. movements that make the pain pronounced, as what gives you relief are all paralysis is rated 60%. Once the regional office (RO) issues its determination, the veteran has a year to file an appeal. If you're an honorably discharged veteran seeking VA disability benefits for back pain, you'll likely receive a 10% ratingthe general minimum rating if the back pain . The location of your symptoms, the movements that heighten the pain, and the actions that provide you with relief are all factors that are important in your diagnosis. Radiculopathy falls under the larger umbrella of neuropathy, which deals with general nerve damage. Lay evidence can include the veterans own statements, as well as statements from family members, attesting to the frequency of flare-ups, daily challenges, measures needed to manage the symptoms, loss of sleep, loss of alertness, etc. This could result in a 20 percent disability rating. Why would you ever want to be denied for radiculopathy? Do You Need Help Determining Your Nerve Ratings? Call today. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. If a nerve condition affects both sides of the body (such as both pairs of arms or legs), the VA should issue a rating foreach side and anadditionalbilateral factor. the causes of your sciatica. Am I eligible for VA benefits due to Radiculopathy? Maybe You Want the VA to Deny Your Radiculopathy Claim! Neuralgia cannot be rated higher Took a whole 10-15 min. Back injuries and musculoskeletal injuries can result in sciatica, which is quite common for military veterans. I want to thank Woods & Woods for not letting me give up. VA Disability for Nerve Damage and Nerve Conditions - YouTube Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. Doctors look at your back in three sections. Every case is different, but let us take a free look at your claim before you send it in, or even before you start the application process. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. added to your overall combined rating for Sciatica. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. It can be difficult to distinguish between the various categories and degrees of severity for sciatic nerve conditions. Lumbar and Cervical Radiculopathy VA Benefits - Woods and Woods, LLC When one is suffering from severe but There are several common symptoms of sciatica. Be sure to request an opinion from your physician stating that your sciatica issues are likely a result of your time in service. Under these characterizations, each nerve has its own disability rating for each level of severity. The key isnt how far you can move, but how far you can move before you are in pain. Back injuries and various musculoskeletal yet assertive representation for our clients. The examiners report to the VA Regional Office (RO), where the decision is made. In 2019, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report which said that the lack of specifics in the rating criteria is leading to unfair and arbitrary decision-making. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. When sciatica is serious and severe, it can make life extremely difficult and uncomfortable. To understand which of the three classifications your sciatica falls under, look to the sciatic nerve itself. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Mild symptoms are rated 10%. In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Was the veteran able to go through and explain all the important points about symptoms and experiences? Learn how VA rates Veterans' nerve conditions and nerve damage (such as peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, radiculopathy, retinopathy) for disability benefits,. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. However, a few years after he was granted service connection, he was diagnosed with radiculopathy of his lower extremities due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your. If the condition is moderate, Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. For direct service connection, you should prove the three elements: A current, diagnosed sciatica condition An in-service situation or event that may have caused or contributed to your problem Youll move your head forward and backward like you are looking up and down. VA Disability Ratings for Nerve Damage | CCK Law Depending on the loss of feeling in your elbow vs. your dominant hand, you might get a different VA rating. If you dont have a service-related back condition, dont worry because you may still be able to get your sciatica service-connected. I have my medical files and here is the following: Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. Secondary conditions are rated in the same manner as primary service-connected conditions, using the same rating schedules. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. For sciatica, for example, in radiculopathy of the lower back, the VA appliesrating criteriaspecific to the sciatic nerve (diagnostic code 8720), and assigns a disability percent rating on whether the neuralgia is moderate or mild. Call our office today for a freecase evaluation. The symptoms and location can vary, and the particular area and nerve affected can impact a veterans VA disability rating for radiculopathy. With the exception of severe incomplete paralysis, there are no specific symptoms listed in the rating criteria that veterans must have to receive a rating of mild, moderate, or moderately severe sciatica. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, VA appliesrating criteriaspecific to the sciatic nerve. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. The AMA has been the VAs appeal system since 2019. The veteran has constant, severe pain in his lower back because of the radiculopathy affecting his ability to function on a daily basis. These diagnosed and service-connected disabilities can get you a higher rating. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Lumbar is the region of your lower back all the way down to your tailbone. If this is the case, a rating of 80 Symptoms In this post, we will explore the VA rating for Sciatica as well as how to file a VA claim for Sciatica. They are very knowledgeable. Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Remember, every conflict is resolved in support of the higher rating. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! If your long thoracic nerve is affected, however, it will keep you from raising your arm above your shoulder level and will only earn a 30% rating at the worst. The coccyx is your tailbone and its at the very bottom. Perhaps you had no secondary conditions when you first filed your claim, but a condition showed up later. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. When Sciatica is severe, it can even lead Radiculopathy VA Disability Rating: Cervical, Lumbar, Thoracic Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. When a VA examination is scheduled, the claimant must cooperate by reporting for the examination. You may, for example, have developed radiculopathy that stems from a back strain or a back injury you suffered during military service. Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. Symptoms of moderately severe, moderate, and mild sciatic neuritis can be given a range of ratings including 40, 20, and 10 percent. Common symptoms include: Most vets went through long periods of standing or marching, strenuous physical exercise challenges, and weapons training during military service. If you are a veteran suffering from daily back pain, make sure you apply for all of the VA disabilities you are entitled to. Sciatica itself actually refers to a symptom rather than a specific disease. This occurs when a nerve in the lower portion of the back is pinched, and it can cause numbness and tingling in the hips and legs. 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. Instead, its a precise way of describing the location of the pain. Partial paralysis can result in poor blood Incomplete, moderately severe paralysis is rated 40%. If they can be shown to warrant separate ratings, then they will be combined together. Radiculopathy causes different types of pain, but Veterans usually experience pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Already working with us? The degree of severity, represented by a percentage, corresponds to the monthly compensation a vet receives. What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. VA then assigns a rating based on the levels of functioning and severity, and the affected nerve group. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. The highest rating given for neuralgia is We have updated our Privacy Policy. Since your brain and spinal cord connect to your entire body through your nerves, any part of your body can have pain or go numb when a nerve in your back is pinched. you viewed to avoid repetition. While we still have our home base in Florida, Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. Thoracic Radiculopathy He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. To qualify for the next level up, you need to meet all the criteria of one category. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates The back pain is rated separately, so you could have a 40% rating on your back, 20% on your right let and 10% on your left leg which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. You may be owed compensation. However, the most common rating for lumbar radiculopathy is under the sciatic nerve. This makes it difficult to bend the knee and could lead to an 80 percent disability rating. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Even if you already have achieved the service connection or the 10% rating for back pain, you can still get help from us to increase your rating or double-check your effective date. Sciatica can affect both sides of the body. You dont have to pay anything until we win your case anyway. Identifying which nerves are affected and how bad will be the main goal of your C&P exam. Veterans may experience a number of debilitating nerve conditions; however, three of the most common include peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, and sciatica. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. Updated: April 23, 2020. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. We stay with you every step of the way during your application or appeal process. This leaves room for many different interpretations and inconsistencies between the Regional Offices, Board of Veterans Affairs judges, and more. Youll tilt your head side to side and then you will turn your head to look around. What Does Your VA Disability Rating Mean? How to Get Disability Benefits for Sciatica | DisabilitySecrets If there is a big bad disability that will get you more money per month, youd want that instead. TDIU is essentially an alternative path to receiving maximum benefits. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim If your condition is severe, an orthopaedic If you have a dull pain in your back but feel like your legs are being electrocuted, you probably have some form of sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy. It causes pain, burning, and numbness all the way from your butt down to your toes. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, irritated, or compressed. Sciatica and Your VA Disability Claim | CCK Law Make sure you work with an expert when you file your claim with the VA so you dont miss anything like that.