va disability for sciatica radiculopathy

Such veterans that suffer from sciatica may be eligible forVA disability benefitsif they can prove that their issue is a result of their time spent in the service. 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. 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. Secondary conditions develop as a result of an underlying condition or injury. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? How Do I Establish Service Connection for Sciatica? Lumbar Radiculopathy. I bought a home. Sciatica ratings are usually based on whether the sciatica is mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe. 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. How Does the VA Rate Sciatica and Related Issues? Sciatica is not an actual diagnosis of a A herniated disc in this region can cause pain that radiates down one or both arms. VA rates sciatica under 38 CFR 4.124a, Schedule of ratings - neurological conditions and convulsive disorders, as follows: Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve - Diagnostic Code 8520 80% - complete paralysis in which all the muscles of the leg below the knee fail to work, causing serious difficulty in bending the knee To understand which of the three classifications your sciatica falls under, look to the sciatic nerve itself. Veterans may experience a number of debilitating nerve conditions; however, three of the most common include peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, and sciatica. paralysis is rated 60%. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Your flexion for the thoracic and lumbar areas are grouped together into the Thoracolumbar tests. Diagnostic Code 8713 Neuralgia. Complete paralysis: If the foot drops (it Sciatica itself actually refers to a symptom rather than a specific disease. The sacrum is the region of the back that connects to your hips and pelvis. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Start filling out the paperwork if you were honorably discharged, you deserve the benefits. The examiners report to the VA Regional Office (RO), where the decision is made. In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added. However, the criteria listed here can also be subjective. Back pain doesnt often travel alone. Sciatica is not a direct diagnosis of the problem. The bilateral factor refers to when a veteran has a disability that affects both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. Usually, sciatica only alters one side of the body. This only applies to your neck. What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? Doctors look at your back in three sections. Can My Disability Rating Be Reduced By The VA? Hill & Ponton P.A. Once its decided which category your illness falls under, you can be graded either under that category or under limited motion. This. Each of these severities has their own diagnostic code and separate assigned percent ratings under 38 CFR 4.124a, Schedule of ratings - neurological conditions and convulsive disorders. A sciatic nerve condition like complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve results in the muscles in the leg and below the knee worsening. The required information to rank your condition must be recorded by the physician in your exam correctly. Mild symptoms are rated 10%. TDIU is a more complex process than just one disability most of the time, so youll have to present your full case to the VA. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. 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. motion, your balance and posture will be considered. Crepitation is the medical term for these sounds. What Does Your VA Disability Rating Mean? Do You Need Help Determining Your Nerve Ratings? We advocate for the disabled. Secondary service connectionis when a veterans service-connected condition causes or aggravates a non-service-connected condition, andVAthen grants service connection for the secondary condition. Examples of in-service incidents may include breaking or dislocating a vertebra or suffering physical back strain while training, operating a weapon, lifting equipment, jumping, or completing other military exercises. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. 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. Neuralgia of the sciatic nerve (sciatica). Youll move your head forward and backward like you are looking up and down. If you think you may have Sciatica, but have never been to your doctor, pick up the phone and call the VA nearest you to book an appointment. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Also, explain what you cant do because of that numbness. It doesn't matter what you call the disability, as long as VA knows what you are talking about. The lower . The nerve functions, however, it is swollen, irritated, and painful. This is when the nerve cannot function at all. 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. This damage can occur due to an accident, disease, or overuse. Incontinence can also occur as a result. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If there are two equally strong exams with conflicting data, or if the sciatica issue can be equally rated under two different codes, then the one that offers the highest rating will be used. However, the most common rating for lumbar radiculopathy is under the sciatic nerve. In some instances, VA may determine an additional disability examination is still required to complete the claim for disability benefits. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. The thoracic area is in the middle down to your lower back. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. When you apply for VA disability for Cervical or Lumbar Radiculopathy, the key is how much paralysis you experience and how often. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Perhaps you already had a health condition when entering the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and it was aggravated during your active duty service. Things such as your spinal range of Technically, the term sciatica usually refers to neuralgia (i.e., sharp pain due to an irritated or damaged nerve) of the sciatic nerve. 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. VA does have some criteria in its Adjudication Procedures Manual, or the M21. VA Disability for Nerve Damage and Nerve Conditions - YouTube 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. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. you viewed to avoid repetition. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 The VA doesn't have a diagnostic code for peripheral neuropathy, so the VA rates the condition based on the nerve(s) involved. Do I file for Radiculopathy or Sciatica and if Awarded ask for retroactive pay from 2004? Sciatica is the pain that one experiences Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. back problems that cause sciatica include spinal stenosis ordisc herniations, talk to our staff to write up a lay statement, Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your, sciatica may also be a secondary issue to other service-related conditions, Nervous System Conditions VA Disability Articles, Neurological issues VA disability articles, I have referred 16 veterans to this law firm, Pain, weakness, and numbness in the lower back, The highest level of pain when theyre sitting or standing, Difficulty standing up for long periods or walking for a long time, A worsened pain after sudden movements such as sneezing or coughing, An in-service situation or event that may have caused or contributed to your problem, A medical opinion linking the in-service situation or event to your sciatica condition (. sciatica, he or she may experience relief when lying down or when walking, Sciatica can also make it If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. VA Rating for Sciatica: How to File a VA Claim for Sciatica Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. 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. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. But for others, compression of the sciatic nerve causes lumbar radiculopathy weakness and loss of feeling in the legs. Back injuries and musculoskeletal injuries can result in sciatica, which is quite common for military veterans. When it comes to your C&P Exam, you dont want to tough it out. Sort of, if you have symptoms that could be tied to either of those disabilities, talk to one of our doctors that works with VA claims every day. Usually, radiculopathy does not require any major surgery. Damage to one or more of these discs can cause compression to a nearby nerve root. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. The Sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body and extends from the lower back through the hips and the buttocks, down each leg. For radiculopathy, relevant evidence relates to any element of the veterans claim. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. So claiming "numbness and pain in my right leg" works as well as "radiculopathy" (in my right leg.) Incomplete paralysis can be determined as severe, moderately severe, moderate, or mild with disability ratings as low as 10 percent. Often we have clients with 20% ratings for back disabilities who could qualify for higher ratings for their serious impairments. tingling or pain that interferes with your back or how your legs operate, your Discover exactly what sciatica is and whether yournerve ratingsallow you to claim benefits for your condition. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! To be eligible for VA disability benefits for sciatica, you must first prove that your condition is the result of your time in the military service. 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. Symptoms including severe loss of reflexes, loss of sensation, muscle atrophy, and severely reduced movement can be considered severe neuritis. Copy this embed code to share the infographic on your own site. It can be hard distinguishing between the three categories and degrees of severity to understand your nerve ratings. Again, point out any cracks or crunches that your joints make and let your doctor know if you cant make some of the movements because of pain. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. This may also apply if you had existing radiculopathy that was made worse during your time in the service. Remember if you ever fell, what your daily activities included, and how those activities could hurt your back. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Neuritis of the sciatic nerve. We have updated our Privacy Policy. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Symptoms that are experienced when one is Each of these ratings of conditions has sub-categories which are mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. In such cases, the physician or rating authorities can extend this period as necessary. Already working with us? VA Disability Rating for Radiculopathy - Hill & Ponton, P.A. 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. Radiculopathy VA Disability Rating: Cervical, Lumbar, Thoracic document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is [K.S]. Depending on the loss of feeling in your elbow vs. your dominant hand, you might get a different VA rating. If there is a big bad disability that will get you more money per month, youd want that instead. Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. Symptoms of moderately severe, moderate, and mild sciatic neuritis can be given a range of ratings including 40, 20, and 10 percent. If you dont have a service-related back condition, dont worry because you may still be able to get your sciatica service-connected. This includes both medical evidence and lay evidence. Let us know. When radiculopathy occurs in the lower back, it is known as lumbar radiculopathy, also referred to as sciatica because nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve are often involved. If you are suffering from any loss of He can now file a claim with VA for secondary service connection for his radiculopathy since it was caused by his degenerative disc disease. Perhaps you had no secondary conditions when you first filed your claim, but a condition showed up later. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Therefore, a service connection for back trouble is not unusual. Once youve understood which category your condition falls into, determine the level of severity of the symptoms by looking at the loss of function it causes you. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. Even if you have this, it often takes a long time for the doctors to rule out everything else and give you this diagnosis. the knee do not work at all, and the knee has serious trouble bending (bending Its not much, but its a start. Sciatica can be incredibly difficult to live with and in severe cases can cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. If youre not sure if you qualify, were here to help. Two or more service-connected conditions, one of which is rated at 40 percent or higher, with a combined rating of 70 percent or higher. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The upper radicular group is rated under diagnostic codes 8510, 8610, and 8710. problem, but rather, an accurate way of describing the location of the pain. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Veterans dont necessarily need to trace their radiculopathy to one single active-duty incident. Lumbar radiculopathy is irritation or inflammation of a nerve root in the low back. Different groups will have different diagnostic codes. To understand this condition, it helps to understand the parts of the spine: Vertebrae. Incomplete, moderately severe paralysis is rated 40%. Back pain can be established as a service-connected disability, but did you know there are specific conditions like radiculopathy that can get you a higher VA rating? Here, we discuss the process of proving service connection and obtaining a VA disability rating for radiculopathy. VA Benefits for Radiculopathy | Cuddigan Law As of 2020, roughly one million veterans are service-connected for paralysis of the sciatic nerve, making it the most commonly service-connected neurological condition. To discuss your own case, contact us for aninitial case evaluationat no charge to you. Measures of your extension, lateral flexion, and rotation all combine to measure your cervical flexion. Not all doctors know how VA disability applications work, so we have doctors on our staff to review your application before it goes to the VA. Our on-staff doctors know what the VA wants when it comes to granting benefits. VA Benefits for Sciatica | Cuddigan Law difficult for one to stand up for extended periods or for one to walk for long, Pain from Sciatica can Often, Veterans' radiculopathy is a secondary.