Moderately severe incomplete paralysis is rated as 40 You do need to prove it is caused by service connected issues. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. does. This condition is commonly caused byback conditionssuch as herniated discs, stenosis, and bone spurs. The value of being rated several different times on the same body part can not be understated. radiculopathy. Secondary conditions are those that develop as a result of the primary condition. Examples of secondary conditions associated with neck pain include radiculopathy, due to a compressed nerve in the cervical spine, and migraine headaches . This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! 203, San Jose, CA 95134 In addition to secondary service connection, veterans may also be able to seek service connection through aggravation. You file for radiculopathy ratings after you are already rated for the back or neck. Tingling from the spinal area outward into the hips, legs, The cervical spine, conveying sensation to the neck and arm muscles, The thoracic or middle spine, conveying sensation to the chest, midsection, and ab muscles, Was noted in the service persons entrance examination, Got worse during the persons time of service, as shown by medical records such as a comparison of reports on the veterans disability before and during, or soon after, service, Worsened more in service than it would have worsened outside of service. This is the most common method of service connection for VA disability compensation benefits. lower extremities are typically rated under diagnostic code 8620. That said, veterans need to claim their back injury in a highly specific way. Radiculopathy is a pinched nerve. Essentially, the spine pinches the root of the nerve. We discuss how chronic pain affects mental healthin a different blog. Remember, radiculopathy is probably going to be a secondary VA claim. 38 CFR 3.114 Note:Not to be combined with lost motion above shoulder level. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 To discuss your own case, contact us for aninitial case evaluationat no charge to you. Realistically, an MRI on your service connected back or neck injury is the best way to do that. Notably, symptoms are serious pain, numbness, and tingling. Otherwise, the denial stands. VA Disability for Radiculopathy // Appeals, Claims, Denials - Vet Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. In addition, I have four ratings for secondary radiculopathy (10% each for lower extremities and 20% each for upper extremities). Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 Sometimes a pre-existing condition is worsened by military service. percent disabling for both the major and minor side. After an exam, vets and witnesses should promptly memorialize their experience, and date their notes. However, the most common rating for lumbar radiculopathy is under the sciatic nerve. Radiculopathy is commonly known as a pinched nerve. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. disabling. I have a cervical sprain rated at 20% and a thoracolumbar sprain also rated at 20%. triangular shape, form the sacrum. Nerve roots split from the cord and travel between the The Ultimate Guide to VA Disability Benefits for Neck Pain or paralysis of the upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals). A doctors physical exam and electromyogram (EMG) that confirms a radicular condition serve as bases for ratings. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. (a) Extremely unfavorable complete ankylosis of the knee, or complete ankylosis of 2 major joints of an extremity or shortening of the lower extremity of 312inches (8.9 cms.) I See The Value- How Do I File A Secondary VA Claim? The pinched nerve can cause pain and discomfort for veterans who experience it, and the pain is often experienced as numbness, tingling, or weakness. If radiculopathy is caused by a low back condition, the individuals will feel the symptoms in the lower extremities (thigh, calf, foot). Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. You earned your benefits, but you still have to fight to claim them. A higher rating than those currently assigned is only 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. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, A medical diagnosis of the secondary VA disability youre attempting to link to the current service connected disability (must be documented in a medical record), A current service-connected primary disability (e.g., your current list of service connected disabilities from your VA.gov account), Medical nexus evidence establishing a connection between the service-connected primary condition, Asthma secondary to GERD (acid reflux or heartburn), Asthma secondary to Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Asthma secondary to Vocal Cord Dysfunction (Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction), Asthma secondary to Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome, ED secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to PTSD, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to Depression, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to Anxiety, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to Heart Disease, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to Neurological Conditions, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to Gynecological conditions, such as Vulvovaginal Atrophy, Infections or Lichen Sclerosis, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder secondary to Medication Side Effects, Fibromyalgia secondary to Interstitial Cystitis or Painful Bladder Syndrome, Fibromyalgia secondary to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Fibromyalgia secondary to Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, GERD secondary to Medication Side Effects, GERD secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Hypertension secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Hypertension secondary to Hyperthyroidism, IBS secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Menieres Syndromesecondary to Hearing Loss, Menieres Syndromesecondary to Migraines, Migraines secondary to Medication Side Effects, Plantar Fasciitis secondary to Foot Condition, Plantar Fasciitis secondary to Back Condition, Plantar Fasciitis secondary to Knees, Hips, Joint Instability, Plantar Fasciitis secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Radiculopathy secondary to Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain, Radiculopathy secondary to Spinal Stenosis, Radiculopathy secondary to Spondylolisthesis, Radiculopathy secondary to Ankylosing Spondylitis, Radiculopathy secondary to Vertebral Fracture or Dislocation, Restless Leg Syndrome secondary to Back Condition, Restless Leg Syndrome secondary to Neck Condition, Restless Leg Syndrome secondary to Medication Side Effects, Restless Leg Syndrome secondary to Peripheral Neuropathy, Sleep Apnea secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Somatic Symptom Disorder secondary to Tinnitus, Somatic Symptom Disorder secondary to Back Condition, Somatic Symptom Disorder secondary to Neck Condition, Vertigo secondary to Medication Side Effects, Vertigo secondary to Head or Neck Conditions, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business. There is a Today Im talking about my va claim and how to connect sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. -Tactical Mike. Sometimes diabetes or arthritis can cause radiculopathy in addition to direct spine injuries. In addition to longer spinous processes, rib attachments add Secondary Conditions Veterans Can Claim for Back Pain For example, a veteran may have had flat feet prior to entering service but wearing military boots and prolonged standing worsened his or her flat feet leading to a painful disability called plantar fasciitis, which is eligible for compensation under the law. If the veterans doctor has provided a favorable opinion on the claim, the vet can submit this supportive evidence in the C&P exam. Perhaps you already had a health condition when entering the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and it was aggravated during your active duty service. The sciatic nerve is rated under diagnostic codes 8520, 8620, and 8720. the lower back area is your lumbar spine. The degree of severity, represented by a percentage, corresponds to the monthly compensation a vet receives. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Bone spurs are areas of extra bone growth and they can form These conditions, either directly service, Secondary disabilities may not be the first thing that comes to mind while filing your VA compensation claim, but they can be integral to the process. In accordance with 38 CFR 3.310 current disability condition that is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury shall also be service connected. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! veterans suffer from various back conditions that may or may not be service 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. You're not alone. Radiculopathy (pinched nerve) Secondary to Back Conditions - Veterans If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. While we still have our home base in Florida, Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Radiculopathy, Evidence for Radiculopathy Claims and Appealing under the AMA system. In this post, we will be exploring the VA Disability Rating for Radiculopathy in great detail. degenerative conditions. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 abbreviated C1 through C7 (top to bottom). Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Today,Brian Reesethe VA Claims Insider reveals and explains the 72 Best Federal Veteran Benefits from A to Z. you viewed to avoid repetition. Immediately below the sacrum are five additional bones, Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 the cervical or lumbar regions. This. Thickening (ossification) of the spinal ligaments may also 100+ Most Common VA Disability List of Secondary Conditions (2022). When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. This will effectively increase your VA disability rating. 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. Symptoms of radiculopathy vary by location but frequently include pain, weakness, numbness and tingling. compression. The highest possible VA disability rating for Radiculopathy, across all radicular groups, with complete paralysis, is 90%. 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. The middle and upper back area is your thoracic spine and Higher ratings are reserved for more severe cases. For example, a veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. For example, the following codes from 38 CFR, Part 4, The rating is 20% for mild symptoms and up to 50% for severe symptoms. As a Claims Advocate, she works with attorneys and peers to review and gather evidence to help veterans receive the benefits they so deserve. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. A veterans VA disability rating for Radiculopathy depends upon the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms, meaning the more severe your symptoms, the higher the VA rating for Radiculopathy. This refers to disabilities or death that result from hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination by a VA medical professional or facility, or due to participation in a program of vocational rehabilitation. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. A medical record can show a doctors diagnosis of radiculopathy or another service-connected condition. For VA disability purposes, the four regions listed below will be considered when it comes to your final VA rating for Radiculopathy. It covers vertebrae C1-C7. Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Regulation normally forbids assigning multiple ratings for one set of symptoms. Each structural element of a lumbar vertebra is bigger, I have a cervical sprain rated at 20% and a thoracolumbar sprain also rated at 20%. In accordance with 4.63 Loss of Use of a Hand or a Foot, for the purpose of special monthly compensation, will be held to exist when no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below elbow or knee with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! Radiculopathy VA Disability Ratings and Benefits, Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. There are many reasons why veterans would want to obtain a current VA disability letter with What is Radiculopathy for VA Disability Rating Purposes? CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! This is the least common location for radiculopathy. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. [2] Myelopathy. Myelopathy | Johns Hopkins Medicine,www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/myelopathy. claim for secondary service connection due to one or more service connected back Am I eligible for VA benefits due to Radiculopathy? The size and shape of each lumbar vertebra is designed to Radiculopathy can have many different signs and symptoms as Check out the rest of the CombatCraig.com website for a huge amount of helpful free content. Secondary Claims for Radiculopathy of the Back and Neck - Fight 4 Vets Because the nerve roots in this area of the spine primarily This condition is detected by MRI and usually requires surgery. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. required to warrant a VA disability rating for Radiculopathy. VA Disability Rating for Radiculopathy - Hill & Ponton, P.A. However, radiculopathy takes me to a combined 70%. Five bones (abbreviated S1 through S5) fused into a 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8620. Hi veterans, Brian Reese here with VA Claims Insider, and in this Ultimate Guide, Im going to reveal and explain the Top 100+ VA Disability List of Secondary Conditions. The upper radicular group is rated under diagnostic codes 8510, 8610, and 8710. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! extension movement but limit rotation. Youre telling the VA that your current disability condition is the direct result of your active duty military service. (called the Odontoid Process or dens) that projects upward into the ring of 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.. 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. 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8621, rather than Diagnostic Code 8626 for rating Radiculopathy in arms, buttocks or lower extremities can be secondary to several underlying physical conditions, such as: Because it is related to and accompanies numerous other back issues, radiculopathy is frequently claimed as a veterans disability that is secondary to other back conditions or back pain. Calluses. The lumbar spine has more range of motion than the thoracic (b) Complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal) and consequent, footdrop, accompanied by characteristic organic changes including trophic and circulatory disturbances and other concomitants confirmatory of complete paralysis of this nerve, will be taken as loss of use of the foot. To establish secondary service connection for these conditions, veterans must show that the onset and/or progression of each condition is the result of their neck pain. or more, will be taken as loss of use of the hand or foot involved. The narrowing of foramina is known as foraminal stenosis, which is very similar tospinal stenosisthat affects the spinal cord. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. The other cervical vertebrae (C3 through C7) are shaped like In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added. In my experience, this type of service connection is uncommon. You are not alone! You need to make your raters job easy. Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. We know what other conditions are service-connected and come up as common secondary conditions. A few examples of these secondary conditions or complications are radiculopathy, myelopathy, urinary incontinence and/or frequency along with mental health conditions as well. For example, does your service connected knee injury cause you to overuse your other knee? In myelopathy, the pressure is placed on the spine itself, as compared to radiculopathy which places pressure on the nerve roots. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. MRIs are quite expensive, but so is being underrated. The VA can order a clarification from the examiner, or even order a new exam with a different examiner. infections and various cancerous and noncancerous growths in the spine that may Moderate incomplete paralysis is rated as 20 percent Service Connection by Aggravation: What If You Were Diagnosed With Radiculopathy Before Service? Counsel can be very helpful for a successful C&P exam, and the right preparation can be the difference between an approval or denial.