Since that time, we have provided compassionate VA disability ratings for Sciatica fall under one of the following codes from eCFR, Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Code 8520: Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. If youre not sure if you qualify, were here to help. Of course, the words Severe, Moderate, Mild all have vague meanings. Remember, every conflict is resolved in support of the higher rating. Increasingly, the examiners useDisability Benefits Questionnaires, which independent medical experts can also fill out. Make sure you work with an expert when you file your claim with the VA so you dont miss anything like that. However, the most common rating for lumbar radiculopathy is under the sciatic nerve. If your mom remembers a before and after, have her talk to our staff to write up a lay statement to back your case. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. Learn how VA rates Veterans' nerve conditions and nerve damage (such as peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, radiculopathy, retinopathy) for disability benefits,. like coughing. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 If you cant stand at work because your legs go numb or if you cant lift weights at the factory because you cant lift your arm, be sure to say that in detail and get it on the record at your exam. In many cases, sciatica is the result of a ruptured intervertebral disk,an injury, or narrowing of the spinal canal that applies pressure on the nerve. Usually, radiculopathy does not require any major surgery. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. 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. level of pain either when they are sitting or standing, Sometime when one has Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Sciatica is not an actual diagnosis of a Veterans may experience a number of debilitating nerve conditions; however, three of the most common include peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, and sciatica. This Firm is So Good at what they do! Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. It can be stiffness or even sharp pain. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); They have shown me nothing but professionalism and quick responsiveness to any situation. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about VA benefits for back pain. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. The upper radicular group is rated under diagnostic codes 8510, 8610, and 8710. We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! Often, Veterans' radiculopathy is a secondary. Doctors look at your back in three sections. mild, you may only be able to receive a rating of between 10 and 40%. The nice thing about this is that while you only have one back, you can get multiple ratings for a left leg and a right leg which can then be combined into a greater rating. Do I file for Radiculopathy or Sciatica and if Awarded ask for retroactive pay from 2004? Dont hide anything and be explicit and detailed about what hurts and what is numb. Degenerative Disc Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Gulf War Syndrome all have the capability of a higher rating. 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. Specifically, the veteran's radiculopathy affects the veteran's sciatic nerve. Secondary Service Connection for Radiculopathy. Developed new symptoms? Perhaps you had no secondary conditions when you first filed your claim, but a condition showed up later. Code 8720: These diagnosed and service-connected disabilities can get you a higher rating. pain will be categorized under neuralgia. 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 this is the case, a rating of 80 Then, file a disability claim for your medical issues. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Measures of your extension, lateral flexion, and rotation all combine to measure your cervical flexion. While one veteran may have specific symptoms, and the Regional Office finds that they have moderate sciatica, another veteran could have those very same symptoms and be judged as having mild sciatica. Since your back is a long line of joints, it can happen in any part of your back too. You may have another disability like diabetes or arthritis instead, so make sure you get a full physical from a doctor. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. You can look at all of these ratings in more detail by diagnostic code on 38 CFR 4.124a Schedule of ratings neurological conditions and convulsive disorders. This includes both medical evidence and lay evidence. If the veterans doctor has provided a favorable opinion on the claim, the vet can submit this supportive evidence in the C&P exam. The VA commonly requires C&P exams to rate disability and determine the connection to service. Radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the spinal column is pinched and becomes inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. How to apply for VA Disability Pay Updated: January 19, 2023. Fill out the short form below to contact us. If you cant feed yourself, you would be closer to the 50-70 level and maybe even qualify for Aid and Attendance. He can now file a claim with VA for secondary service connection for his radiculopathy since it was caused by his degenerative disc disease. 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. Back pain doesnt often travel alone. They are very knowledgeable. If you need helpclaiming benefitsfor sciatic nerve issues, you believe you received an unfairly low rating, or your claim was denied, were here to help. 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. Veterans may be able to claim not only service-connected disability benefits but also secondary service-connection that the Department of Veterans Affairs might have missed. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 If there is a big bad disability that will get you more money per month, youd want that instead. Thats because if your sciatica results in limited motion, you can only receive one rating for it. Without this firm, I truly believe I would not have gotten all the benefits that I was eligible and entitled to receive. As such, the report recommended VA create concreate criteria for determining whether neurological impairment related to the spine is mild, moderate, or severe. Most Common VA Disabilities Claimed for Compensation: Can a 100 percent Disabled Veteran Work and Earn an Income? So, start at the bottom and work your way up. Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, irritated, or compressed. Crepitation is the medical term for these sounds. We have updated our Privacy Policy. You might be able to pay for some heating pads or some visits to the chiropractor/spa with that. This compression or 'pinching' of the spinal nerve root is what is known as radiculopathy. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. Youll move your head forward and backward like you are looking up and down. In mild cases, symptoms but not significant impairments exist. partial paralysis of the sciatic nerve, a 60% rating will be given. However, the criteria listed here can also be subjective. Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. What Is the VADisability Rating for Radiculopathy? 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. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! added to your overall combined rating for Sciatica. If you think you may be suffering from sciatica, but youve never visited the doctor about it, pick up the phone and call the VA nearest to you to make an appointment. VA disability ratings are expressed as percentages and range from 10% to 100%. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Here, we discuss the process of proving service connection and obtaining a VA disability rating for radiculopathy. Other key evidence may include a medical experts professional opinion that the service-connected condition (low back strain, for example) caused the radiculopathythus indicating a secondary service-connected disability. Common examples of back problems that cause sciatica include spinal stenosis ordisc herniations. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. This results in inflammation, pain, and usually some numbness in the affected leg. Veterans dont necessarily need to trace their radiculopathy to one single active-duty incident. Once the history of your sciatica has been Forever Grateful, [K.S.]. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. sciatica, he or she may experience relief when lying down or when walking, Sciatica can also make it One service-connected condition rated at 60 percent or higher; or. cannot be lifted by the muscles in the legs), all the muscles in the leg below Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, They experience the most Lumbar is the region of your lower back all the way down to your tailbone. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. This was to add SC and rating for my left leg. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Why would you ever want to be denied for radiculopathy? Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Contactour office for a free case evaluation today at800-544-9144. Sometimes, there is little to no back pain with radiculopathy. Aggravation ratings work slightly differently than primary and secondary service connection ratings, depending on the initial severity of the condition compared to the present level of severity. VA Benefits for Sciatica | Cuddigan Law Come and go or be felt continuously Be less severe in your lower back than in your leg Feel worse after you stand or sit for a long time, as well as when you stand up and twist your body Feel worse after a sudden body movement such as sneezing or coughing Service Connection by Aggravation: What If You Were Diagnosed With Radiculopathy Before Service? The VA should give you the one that has the highest rating, if they only give you one. If you are suffering from any loss of Counsel can be very helpful for a successful C&P exam, and the right preparation can be the difference between an approval or denial. When you go see the doctor and describe numbness or pain in your arms or legs, they will ask you more questions to narrow down your diagnosis. Symptoms that are experienced when one is When applying for VA benefits for sciatica and related conditions, certain principles apply. Technically, the term sciatica usually refers to neuralgia (i.e., sharp pain due to an irritated or damaged nerve) of the sciatic nerve. These terms, which the rating schedule uses, are highly subjective and vaguely defined. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites.