Incomplete, severe Once the regional office (RO) issues its determination, the veteran has a year to file an appeal. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Our certified VA Disability lawyer team works with doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists to work through your claim and make sure every inch is covered. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Learn how VA rates Veterans' nerve conditions and nerve damage (such as peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, radiculopathy, retinopathy) for disability benefits,. We offer this information to our readers as general information only. Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick may be able to help you with the appeals process. In fact, over two million veterans suffer from nerve damage. It comes with symptoms like numbness in your hands and feet, a lack of flexibility, and even digestion or bowel issues. you viewed to avoid repetition. Identifying which nerves are affected and how bad will be the main goal of your C&P exam. Whether you are filing a new claim or dealing with a denied claim, the highly experienced staff at Hill and Ponton is here to advise, support, and represent you. 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. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! 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 have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. 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. Contactour office for a free case evaluation today at800-544-9144. If your condition is severe, an orthopaedic You can have crepitation in any joint. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. When it comes to your C&P Exam, you dont want to tough it out. Medical images like x-rays can also be useful. Youll need evidence of trouble at work if you want to move this claim closer to a 100% TDIU rating. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. If your Sciatic nerve causes your foot to drop and impairs your walking and you cant lift your knee, you might get up to an 80% rating. Symptoms also be made much worse after sneezing or when one makes unexpected movements Vets who receive a mailed notice should attend the exam to avoid a claim being denied. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Thats because if your sciatica results in limited motion, you can only receive one rating for it. 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. I have dental care because Woods & Woods fought for me until they got Unemployability pay for me of 100%. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. To discuss your own case, contact us for aninitial case evaluationat no charge to you. 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. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. Sciatica can affect both sides of the body. percent is assigned. The latter is known asspinal stenosis. Notably, symptoms are serious pain, numbness, and tingling. Additionally, a secondary disability claim can increase your benefits if a new condition arises from your current service-connected disability. If you are suffering from any loss of 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. Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans Disability Benefits Attorneys Helping Veterans Nationwide, Published on October 10, 2019 by Neil Woods Last Updated on December 30, 2022. The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) regulates appeals for denials. Thoracic radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the upper back is pinched, and people may experience pain in their chest or torso area. Sciatica is usually diagnosed after a They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] While lower back pain is often treatable, it can lead to chronic pain and disability if left untreated. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Under these characterizations, each nerve has its own disability rating for each level of severity. Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. It's also called sciatica. 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. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. rated 60%. 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. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. You are not alone! Work with some experienced VA lawyers to make sure you get all that you deserve on your first application. However, if your sciatica is moderate or Sciatica is not an actual diagnosis of a Depending on the loss of feeling in your elbow vs. your dominant hand, you might get a different VA rating. You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. However, if your condition is not as Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 HIRE THEM! To qualify for the next level up, you need to meet all the criteria of one category. Incomplete, mild paralysis is Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. 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). 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. Rating nerve conditions also involves identifying the nerve involved. The upper radicular group is rated under diagnostic codes 8510, 8610, and 8710. 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. Diagnostic code 8510 puts the ratings into these four categories: These same ratings match most of the ratings of Thoracic and Lumbar Radiculopathy as well. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 it can cause all the muscles below the leg and knee to stop working altogether. When you apply for VA disability for Cervical or Lumbar Radiculopathy, the key is how much paralysis you experience and how often. spinal nerve causes pain to develop on the lower back, buttocks, and legs. Lumbar radiculopathy is a common condition among veterans. Symptoms that are experienced when one is Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 3,087 62. . Back injuries and various musculoskeletal This could offer a veteran a 60 percent disability rating for their sciatic nerve condition. Since that time, we have provided compassionate 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 youre not sure if you qualify, were here to help. To diagnose the causes of your sciatica, the Thorough note-taking after the exam can be helpful if the vets representative needs to persuade the VA to overturn a problematic decision on the C&P exam. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. Often, Veterans' radiculopathy is a secondary. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. 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? Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. VA then assigns a rating based on the levels of functioning and severity, and the affected nerve group. 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. This. New and relevant evidence can be used not only in filing a claim, but also to appeal a negative decision, or to reopen an old claim. Once it ends, then the 100% rating will be used for a certain timeframe. Some conditions involve hospitalization or consistent medical care, such as an at-home nurse, for example. If your mom remembers a before and after, have her talk to our staff to write up a lay statement to back your case. Common symptoms include: Nerve issues, such as sciatica, are rated in three different categories based on the degree of severity of symptoms: Each of these three categories of nerve conditions also have sub-categories for mild, moderate, or severe symptoms, creating many different possible ratings for a condition that affects a nerve. If you have been honorably discharged and have joint or back pain, you can probably get the minimum 10% rating for a disability. In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added. 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 Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Those with cervical radiculopathy will be rated within the upper radicular group, middle radicular group, and lower radicular group which include the musculospiral nerve, median nerve, axillary nerve, the musculocutaneous nerve, the long thoracic nerve, and the ulnar nerve. Theyll also check the reflexes in your knees, as well as your nerves. Secondary conditions are rated in the same manner as primary service-connected conditions, using the same rating schedules. This could have a direct effect on your work if you cant look around while holding a weight. 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. He can now file a claim with VA for secondary service connection for his radiculopathy since it was caused by his degenerative disc disease. The sciatic nerve is rated under diagnostic codes 8520, 8620, and 8720. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. 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 (.