causes moderate symptoms, it is rated 20%. How to Get Disability Benefits for Sciatica | DisabilitySecrets 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. The VA uses a general rating formula called the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities to determine the specific percent rating. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! I have my transportation now. This makes it difficult to bend the knee and could lead to an 80 percent disability rating. What Does Your VA Disability Rating Mean? By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Contact Us Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Incomplete, mild paralysis is along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back The AMA has been the VAs appeal system since 2019. Crepitation is the medical term for these sounds. Incomplete, moderate paralysis is rated 20%. Doctors look at your back in three sections. When there is pressure on a nerve in the neck, a veteran can experience radiculopathy in their shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Those with lumbar radiculopathy will be rated within the group of peripheral nerves of the low back and legs. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Please complete this form to send us your message. 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. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. That is only the average, but even if you start applying with a 10% now, youll be in great shape to increase your rating to 60% later. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. 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. Top 6 Secondary Conditions to Lower Back Pain (The Insider's Guide) If they make you unable to work or conduct a normal life, tell them. For veterans with radiculopathy who cannot work but are rated at less than 100 percent on the VA's schedular disability rating scale, a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) rating would allow them to receive compensation at the highest level, even without a 100 percent total schedular . Lumbar radiculopathy is a common condition among veterans. 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. 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. This results in inflammation, pain, and usually some numbness in the affected leg. 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. Depending on the loss of feeling in your elbow vs. your dominant hand, you might get a different VA rating. But for others, compression of the sciatic nerve causes lumbar radiculopathy weakness and loss of feeling in the legs. 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. Of course, the words Severe, Moderate, Mild all have vague meanings. Some conditions involve hospitalization or consistent medical care, such as an at-home nurse, for example. 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 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. I served during peace timein theArmy. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. 3 Tiers of Sciatica VA Disability Ratings and How To Apply will usually find that: VA disability ratings for Sciatica fall under one of the following codes from eCFR, Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Code 8520: Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. If you are experiencing any numbness, The symptom is likely caused by a lumbar or sacral radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc disease. To diagnose the causes of your sciatica, the neuritis. 3,087 62. . Lumbar is the region of your lower back all the way down to your tailbone. Here are some tips on your C&P exam from one of our VA disability lawyers. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. If you need helpclaiming benefitsfor sciatic nerve issues, you believe you received an unfairly low rating, or your claim was denied, were here to help. Code 8620: Radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the spinal column is pinched and becomes inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. Veterans may experience a number of debilitating nerve conditions; however, three of the most common include peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, and sciatica. Developed new symptoms? They are very knowledgeable. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Forever Grateful, [K.S.]. You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. When you apply for VA disability for Cervical or Lumbar Radiculopathy, the key is how much paralysis you experience and how often. Then, file a disability claim for your medical issues. This can be demonstrated by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited movement of the affected body part. 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? Here you bend over forward at the waist for one measurement. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Without this firm, I truly believe I would not have gotten all the benefits that I was eligible and entitled to receive. Discover exactly what sciatica is and whether yournerve ratingsallow you to claim benefits for your condition. If you experience any pain in the movement, or if those moves cause your arms or hands to go numb or burn, tell the doctor. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. is. He or she is going to write down the angle of your flexion. This benefit compensates veterans at the 100 percent level, even if their combined disability rating does not equal 100 percent. The VA can order a clarification from the examiner, or even order a new exam with a different examiner. Thoracic Radiculopathy Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 When Sciatica is severe, it can even lead VA Disability for Nerve Damage and Nerve Conditions - YouTube 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. What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Code 8720: Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. the knee do not work at all, and the knee has serious trouble bending (bending How to Get VA Disability for Radiculopathy. njured, dislocated, or affected by arthritis. You can look at all of these ratings in more detail by diagnostic code on 38 CFR 4.124a Schedule of ratings neurological conditions and convulsive disorders. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Back pain doesnt often travel alone. Cervical radiculopathy is when a veteran has a pinched nerve in their neck. All Rights Reserved. difficult for one to stand up for extended periods or for one to walk for long, Pain from Sciatica can That will bring in about $165.92 a month based on the current VA rating schedule. When it comes to your C&P Exam, you dont want to tough it out. 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 2019, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report which said that the lack of specifics in the rating criteria is leading to unfair and arbitrary decision-making. through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica itself actually refers to a symptom rather than a specific disease. 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. Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, irritated, or compressed. Radiculopathy Disability for Veterans When the bones in your back lose their cushioning, they rub together and may pinch a nerve. For radiculopathy, relevant evidence relates to any element of the veterans claim. As such, the report recommended VA create concreate criteria for determining whether neurological impairment related to the spine is mild, moderate, or severe. However, if your condition is not as Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Do You Need Help Determining Your Nerve Ratings? Im not saying you should be a wimp and fake it, but you should be honest with the doctor about where the pain starts. How Is Radiculopathy Rated By The Va - VA Disability Compensation You stated that you "had an EMG that showed no nerve damage." Perhaps your problem is not what you call the disability . currently suffering from the condition. 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. it is rated 20%. Instead, its a precise way of describing the location of the pain. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about SMC and how you can actually get more than 100% of your VA disability benefit money. Also, explain what you cant do because of that numbness. As such, veterans living with sciatica may have trouble with many activities of daily living, including working certain jobs. However, if your sciatica is moderate or Thank you so much Woods & Woods. If you have been honorably discharged and have joint or back pain, you can probably get the minimum 10% rating for a disability. 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. If you are a veteran suffering from daily back pain, make sure you apply for all of the VA disabilities you are entitled to. Call today. Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims. Well also look and see if you can apply for more than one to combine and increase your benefits. The reflexes in your knees, as well as Symptoms Dont hide anything and be explicit and detailed about what hurts and what is numb. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 So claiming "numbness and pain in my right leg" works as well as "radiculopathy" (in my right leg.) Secondary Service Connection for Radiculopathy. the knee doesnt have to be impossible to rate as complete paralysis of the problem, but rather, an accurate way of describing the location of the pain. The examiners report to the VA Regional Office (RO), where the decision is made. How Does the VA Rate Sciatica and Related Issues? 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. Radiculopathy | Johns Hopkins Medicine First, the VA will rate the veteran's condition under the neuralgia category. The skilled attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you navigate it. 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. Radiculopathy is a common service-connected disability caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. The required information to rank your condition must be recorded by the physician in your exam correctly. Ensure that this occurs properly to make sure you receive a genuine rating. Apr 27, 2011 #4. 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. If you dont have a service-related back condition, dont worry because you may still be able to get your sciatica service-connected. Underfederal law, a preexisting condition is presumed aggravated if that condition: A veteran need not show that a certain incident during service aggravated the disabilityonly that it became worse during service. Lumbar radiculopathy is irritation or inflammation of a nerve root in the low back. Medical images like x-rays can also be useful. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. Radiculopathy is caused by a compressed nerve in the spine. Since that time, we have provided compassionate So, start at the bottom and work your way up. He can now file a claim with VA for secondary service connection for his radiculopathy since it was caused by his degenerative disc disease. They are also more likely to be ruled Permanent and Total, which means you dont have to go back and re-apply and risk losing your benefits every 5-10 years. 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. Mild symptoms are rated 10%. . Radiculopathy VA Disability Rating: Cervical, Lumbar, Thoracic What is going to clarify those words is how paralysis affects your life. the body. Sciatica refers to pain that links to a problem with the sciatic nerve. 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. If you think you injured yourself during your time in service, try to make some notes. 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. The sacrum is the region of the back that connects to your hips and pelvis. VA Disability Benefits for Sciatica and Similar Nerve Conditions VA Disability for Nerve Damage and Nerve Conditions - YouTube This Firm is So Good at what they do! I have my medical files and here is the following: This could help you gain a higher rating. What Is the VADisability Rating for Radiculopathy? If it causes moderately severe symptoms, it is rated 40%. They are also more likely to be ruled Permanent and Total, which means you dont have to go back and re-apply and risk losing your benefits every 5-10 years. For example, a veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. Am I eligible for VA benefits due to Radiculopathy? Thoracic radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the upper back is pinched, and people may experience pain in their chest or torso area. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. 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, nerve root in the spinal column is pinched and becomes inflamed, Secondary Service Connection for Radiculopathy, VA Ratings for Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy, Top 5 VA Errors on Veterans Disability Claims, Tingling from the spinal area outward into the hips, legs, shoulders, or arms, Breaking or dislocating a vertebra or suffering physical back strain while training, 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. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in I have referred 16 veterans to this law firm. You may, for example, have developed radiculopathy that stems from a back strain or a back injury you suffered during military service. When applying for VA benefits for sciatica and related conditions, certain principles apply. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 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. 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. VA disability ratings are expressed as percentages and range from 10% to 100%. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Otherwise, the denial stands. 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. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Sciatica is usually diagnosed after a They fought hard for me and got me more than I ever could dream of. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Technically, the term sciatica usually refers to neuralgia (i.e., sharp pain due to an irritated or damaged nerve) of the sciatic nerve. You may be owed compensation. Cervical radiculopathy is when a veteran has a pinched nerve in their neck. Therefore, neuralgia is generally the most common category that veterans fall into; however, it is possible that a veterans sciatica may present symptomatology consistent with a higher level of severity. It may have more than one single cause. 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. your symptoms. Radiculopathy falls under the larger umbrella of neuropathy, which deals with general nerve damage. Damage to one or more of these discs can cause compression to a nearby nerve root. 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. VA Benefits for Radiculopathy | Cuddigan Law Radiculopathy Secondary to Back Disabilities; . Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your. If your mom remembers a before and after, have her talk to our staff to write up a lay statement to back your case. Additionally, a secondary disability claim can increase your benefits if a new condition arises from your current service-connected disability. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. Radiculopathy vs Neuropathy: Know the Differences - Valiente Mott If they can be shown to warrant separate ratings, then they will be combined together. If you cant feed yourself, you would be closer to the 50-70 level and maybe even qualify for Aid and Attendance. But, if your limited motion is the result of something else, then you can be ranked for both your sciatica and your limited motion. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. Here, we discuss the process of proving service connection and obtaining a VA disability rating for radiculopathy. 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. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. VA Disability Claims Involving a Nerve Condition (Pt 1) Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. 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.