By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Additionally, a secondary disability claim can increase your benefits if a new condition arises from your current service-connected disability. Contact Us Start filling out the paperwork if you were honorably discharged, you deserve the benefits. 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. document what special considerations you need at work to deal with this problem. 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. 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. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 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. Often we have clients with 20% ratings for back disabilities who could qualify for higher ratings for their serious impairments. Your flexion for the thoracic and lumbar areas are grouped together into the Thoracolumbar tests. it can cause all the muscles below the leg and knee to stop working altogether. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Our veterans law practitioners have over 25 years of experience working with veterans. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. However, if your sciatica is moderate or Depending on the loss of feeling in your elbow vs. your dominant hand, you might get a different VA rating. Already working with us? Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. To understand the causes of your sciatica, the first stage of the examination will involve you giving a complete history of your pain and symptoms relating to the issue. 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. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 causes moderate symptoms, it is rated 20%. 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.. TDIU is a more complex process than just one disability most of the time, Nervous System Conditions VA Disability Articles, Neurological issues VA disability articles, Woods and Woods fought hard for this Army Veteran, All shoulder and elbow movements lost or seriously affected but hand and wrist are normal. My Sciatica C&P he did check ROM in my back and legs and then asked a few overall questions regarding my symptoms and then checked strength in my legs/feet etc. Radiculopathy is a common service-connected disability caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Fill out the short form below to contact us. In some instances, VA may determine an additional disability examination is still required to complete the claim for disability benefits. It doesn't matter what you call the disability, as long as VA knows what you are talking about. A sciatic nerve condition like complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve results in the muscles in the leg and below the knee worsening. You may, for example, have developed radiculopathy that stems from a back strain or a back injury you suffered during military service. The rating for incomplete paralysis is Once the history of your sciatica has been established, a physical exam will then be completed by a state-certified technician to understand the underlying cause of your sciatica issue. percent is assigned. Lumbar radiculopathy is irritation or inflammation of a nerve root in the low back. The VA uses a general rating formula called the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities to determine the specific percent rating. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. It can be hard distinguishing between the three categories and degrees of severity to understand your nerve ratings. Click HERE to read now. technician to determine the underlying cause of your sciatica pain. While not all of these are exclusive back pains, they can all point to conditions in the spine that would warrant a higher VA rating. 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 . If your work is affected by this kind of condition, make sure your doctor knows it. While you should tell the C&P Exam doctor every detail of your symptoms. 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. 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. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! factors that will be considered. Below we're sharing the VA range of motion chart used to rate back . Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Well schedule follow-ups and hound the VA if necessary to move your case along. When applying for VA benefits for sciatica and related conditions, certain principles apply. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. This is when the nerve cannot function at all. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans Disability Benefits Attorneys Helping Veterans Nationwide, Published on May 7, 2020 by Mike Woods Last Updated on September 6, 2022. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. 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. Higher ratings are reserved for more severe cases. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! when the sciatic nerve is irritated. If your claim for benefits for sciatic nerve issues was denied, or you believe your current rating is lower than deserved, consult with an accredited veterans representative to discuss your right to appeal. This leaves room for many different interpretations and inconsistencies between the Regional Offices, Board of Veterans Affairs judges, and more. If you are a veteran suffering from daily back pain, make sure you apply for all of the VA disabilities you are entitled to. 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. Since that time, we have provided compassionate Theyll also check the reflexes in your knees, as well as your nerves. This was to add SC and rating for my left leg. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates Nerve damage can be difficult to deal with and often leads to a decrease in What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? We have updated our Privacy Policy. Damage to one or more of these discs can cause compression to a nearby nerve root. 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. Sciatica can affect both sides of the body. 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 Remember, a single condition can only be ranked once. Back injuries and musculoskeletal injuries can result in sciatica, which is quite common for military veterans. It can be stiffness or even sharp pain. Cervical radiculopathy is when a veteran has a pinched nerve in their neck. Keep in mind that that rating can be increased if there is a herniated disc or a bulging disc that causes a doctor to prescribe bed rest, specifically six weeks or more over a year's time period. Common symptoms include: Numbness radiating from the spinal area Physical weakness or pain Be sure to request an opinion from your physician stating that your sciatica issues are likely a result of your time in service. However, its important to note that if a mental disorder or another condition is present thats additional to the sciatica condition (and not caused by it), then that problem can also be rated. For radiculopathy specifically, youll be rated on neurological symptoms. The sciatic nerve is rated under diagnostic codes 8520, 8620, and 8720. For back pain, you are going to get rated based on pain and flexion. This only applies to your neck. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. By using the information weve provided you with, you should understand what needs to be measured and recorded for a proper diagnosis. Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. Do You Have a Service Connection With Sciatica? The VA commonly requires C&P exams to rate disability and determine the connection to service. The thoracic area is in the middle down to your lower back. When there is pressure on a nerve in the neck, a veteran can experience radiculopathy in their shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). It can affect one side or the other, and be different levels on both sides. Veterans with severe sciatica may require the assistance of canes, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices to walk. You can also the VA index using the wordsradiculopathyandratingsto find a current set of decisions on this question as they relate to your specific condition. When one is suffering from severe but The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. As we mentioned earlier, sciatica is caused by the irritation of the roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine, which can result from several physical activities. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. To qualify for the next level up, you need to meet all the criteria of one category. 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. The coccyx is your tailbone and its at the very bottom. As such, the report recommended VA create concreate criteria for determining whether neurological impairment related to the spine is mild, moderate, or severe. yet assertive representation for our clients. How to apply for VA Disability Pay Updated: January 19, 2023. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] These are bones that stack to form the spine. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. 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. If they can be shown to warrant separate ratings, then they will be combined together. I bought a home. This. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. Counsel can be very helpful for a successful C&P exam, and the right preparation can be the difference between an approval or denial. This could have a direct effect on your work if you cant look around while holding a weight. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Secondary Service Connection for Radiculopathy. Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. Radiculopathy is caused by a compressed nerve in the spine. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 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. Sciatica develops when the pressure on the