Thoracic Radiculopathy 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. 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. 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. 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 . Youll tilt your head side to side and then you will turn your head to look around. It is intended that the DBQs will be completed by the Veteran's health care provider. According to the Mayo Clinic, Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. 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. VA Disability for Radiculopathy // Appeals, Claims, Denials - Vet Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. If your condition is severe, an orthopaedic 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. You may have another disability like diabetes or arthritis instead, so make sure you get a full physical from a doctor. Think of the three classifications like levels. 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. when the sciatic nerve is irritated. technician to determine the underlying cause of your sciatica pain. Please complete this form to send us your message. 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. For example, a veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. Youll move your head forward and backward like you are looking up and down. That will bring in about $165.92 a month based on the current VA rating schedule. In such cases, the VA is able to consider certain, Veterans who are seeking an increased rating or service connection for a new disability often ask whether re-opening their file can cause the VA to reduce their existing rating. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your. If they make you unable to work or conduct a normal life, tell them. Is sciatica and radiculopathy the same thing, by VA standards? You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. mild, you may only be able to receive a rating of between 10 and 40%. Radiculopathy falls under the larger umbrella of neuropathy, which deals with general nerve damage. Took a whole 10-15 min. 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 Every case is different, so please contact our certified team. 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. This Firm is So Good at what they do! While we still have our home base in Florida, Symptoms of moderately severe, moderate, and mild sciatic neuritis can be given a range of ratings including 40, 20, and 10 percent. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. After an exam, vets and witnesses should promptly memorialize their experience, and date their notes. Specifically, the veteran's radiculopathy affects the veteran's sciatic nerve. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Radiculopathy causes different types of pain, but Veterans usually experience pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. The moderate nerve rating changes based on the specific nerve. Paralysis is the most severe classification, followed by neuritis, and then neuralgia. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. If you have been honorably discharged and have joint or back pain, you can probably get the minimum 10% rating for a disability. What is service connection through aggravation, and can it apply to radiculopathy? This benefit compensates veterans at the 100 percent level, even if their combined disability rating does not equal 100 percent. Given that radiculopathy is commonly caused by back conditions, it is typically service-connected on a secondary basis. Rating nerve conditions also involves identifying the nerve involved. 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. The symptoms and location can vary, and the particular area and nerve affected can impact a veterans VA disability rating for radiculopathy. Without this firm, I truly believe I would not have gotten all the benefits that I was eligible and entitled to receive. They keep you informed. Complete paralysis: If the foot drops (it Remember, sciatica is the pain that an individual receives when the sciatic nerve is irritated. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Sciatica can be incredibly difficult to live with and in severe cases can cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. If you dont have a service-related back condition, dont worry because you may still be able to get your sciatica service-connected. If you are suffering from total paralysis, These diagnosed and service-connected disabilities can get you a higher rating. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. The bilateral factor refers to when a veteran has a disability that affects both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. When there is pressure on a nerve in the neck, a veteran can experience radiculopathy in their shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. You bend side to side and then rotate at the hips for the final measurements. Most veterans receive a rating of 10 to 20 percent. VA Disability Benefits for Sciatica and Similar Nerve Conditions Amanda Dejesus, Veterans' Advocate Updated: January 12, 2023 Sciatica refers to pain involving a problem with the sciatic nerve. Common Secondary Service-Connected Conditions - Military Benefits How Does the VA Rate Sciatica and Related Issues? Well schedule follow-ups and hound the VA if necessary to move your case along. This is the least common type. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. When a VA examination is scheduled, the claimant must cooperate by reporting for the examination. 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. 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. Sciatica is a nerve condition in which pain radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, traveling from the lower back down through the legs. If you think you injured yourself during your time in service, try to make some notes. They include, but are not limited to: When a person is suffering from sciatica, they may also find that they experience: As mentioned, such symptoms usually affect one side of the body. Since that time, we have provided compassionate You're not alone. Im not saying you should be a wimp and fake it, but you should be honest with the doctor about where the pain starts. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. However, the criteria listed here can also be subjective. Apr 27, 2011 #4. Otherwise, the denial stands. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Degenerative Disc Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Gulf War Syndrome all have the capability of a higher rating. suffering from Sciatica include: When one is suffering from sciatica, one Sciatica itself actually refers to a symptom rather than a specific disease. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. 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. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Since your brain and spinal cord connect to your entire body through your nerves, any part of your body can have pain or go numb when a nerve in your back is pinched. In such cases, the physician or rating authorities can extend this period as necessary. 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