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Do I file for Radiculopathy or Sciatica and if Awarded ask for retroactive pay from 2004? I served during peace timein theArmy. Generally, VA measures severity by first determining if the veteran suffers from: However, symptoms often overlap, and evaluations of paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia can be confusing and inconsistent. 20%. If two exams record the diagnosis differently, then the exam with the most exhaustive data and performed by the most qualified professional in that sector will be the exam the rating is based on. 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. How Does the VA Rate Sciatica and Related Issues? the causes of your sciatica. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. problem, but rather, an accurate way of describing the location of the pain. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Degenerative Disc Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Gulf War Syndrome all have the capability of a higher rating. By using the information weve provided you with, you should understand what needs to be measured and recorded for a proper diagnosis. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. If you want a permanent disability rating for your joint pain, youll need a diagnosis and a clear measurement of your range of motion. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. These cookies do not store any personal information. That said, veterans need to claim their back injury in a highly specific way. These do not often get involved with bulging discs or radiculopathy, but they can be injured, dislocated, or affected by arthritis. As such, veterans living with sciatica may have trouble with many activities of daily living, including working certain jobs. But for others, compression of the sciatic nerve causes lumbar radiculopathy weakness and loss of feeling in the legs. pain will be categorized under neuralgia. 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. 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. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, They experience the most Types of Radiculopathy. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 Counsel can be very helpful for a successful C&P exam, and the right preparation can be the difference between an approval or denial. 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. I have my medical files and here is the following: To understand which of the three classifications your sciatica falls under, look to the sciatic nerve itself. The rating for incomplete paralysis is Lumbar radiculopathy is irritation or inflammation of a nerve root in the low back. You could be eligible for up to $3,345 per month In SSDI Benefits Check Eligibility For many people, sciatica can be treated effectively and the symptoms resolve. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! This information is not a substitute for legal advice. This could help you gain a higher rating. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. After you have filed your claim for VA disability benefits and the VA adjudicators have decoded that your disability is service connected, the, For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. As we mentioned earlier, sciatica is caused by the irritation of the roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine, which can result from several physical activities. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Veterans who do not meet the schedular requirements may still be considered for extraschedular TDIU under 4.16(b). When it comes to your C&P Exam, you dont want to tough it out. Remember, every conflict is resolved in support of the higher rating. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. In this post, we will explore the VA rating for Sciatica as well as how to file a VA claim for Sciatica. The VA uses a general rating formula called the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities to determine the specific percent rating. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. Perhaps you had no secondary conditions when you first filed your claim, but a condition showed up later. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In many cases, lower back pain is caused by spine, discs, or nerve damage. you viewed to avoid repetition. Both! Radiculopathy is classified as a pain syndrome and can be caused by several lower back conditions such as lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. Your flexion for the thoracic and lumbar areas are grouped together into the Thoracolumbar tests. Service Connection by Aggravation: What If You Were Diagnosed With Radiculopathy Before Service? The pinched nerve can cause pain and discomfort for veterans who experience it, and the pain is often experienced as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Remember, a single condition can only be ranked once. 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. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. when the sciatic nerve is irritated. Contactour office for a free case evaluation today at800-544-9144. rating that you can receive is 60%. If a nerve condition affects both sides of the body (such as both pairs of arms or legs), the VA should issue a rating foreach side and anadditionalbilateral factor. This was to add SC and rating for my left leg. Veterans with severe sciatica may require the assistance of canes, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices to walk. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Nerve damage can be difficult to deal with and often leads to a decrease in What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. 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. This compression or 'pinching' of the spinal nerve root is what is known as radiculopathy. TDIU is essentially an alternative path to receiving maximum benefits. It doesnt affect your arms and legs as much as it affects your whole trunk. Aggravation ratings work slightly differently than primary and secondary service connection ratings, depending on the initial severity of the condition compared to the present level of severity. Radiculopathy causes different types of pain, but Veterans usually experience pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. It can affect one side or the other, and be different levels on both sides. It may have more than one single cause. Think of the three classifications like levels. This nerve runs from the lower back through the hips and buttocks all the way down to the leg. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.. Lay evidence can include the veterans own statements, as well as statements from family members, attesting to the frequency of flare-ups, daily challenges, measures needed to manage the symptoms, loss of sleep, loss of alertness, etc. For radiculopathy, relevant evidence relates to any element of the veterans claim. motion, your balance and posture will be considered. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We stay with you every step of the way during your application or appeal process. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. 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. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Sciatica can be incredibly difficult to live with and in severe cases can cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. 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. 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. If any of your buddies are around to remember it or talk about it, get their input too. paralysis is rated 60%. 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. determined, a physical exam will them be completed by a state certified The VA should give you the one that has the highest rating, if they only give you one. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. circulation, limited functionality as well as atrophy of the muscles. The latter is known asspinal stenosis. The examiners report to the VA Regional Office (RO), where the decision is made. added to your overall combined rating for Sciatica. partial paralysis of the sciatic nerve, a 60% rating will be given. Often, Veterans' radiculopathy is a secondary. spinal nerve causes pain to develop on the lower back, buttocks, and legs. Nerve issues are rated by VA under three separate categories that are based on symptom severity. 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. 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. Perhaps you already had a health condition when entering the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and it was aggravated during your active duty service. You can file a new, secondary service-connection. Radiculopathy Disability for Veterans When the bones in your back lose their cushioning, they rub together and may pinch a nerve. 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. 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 (. If they make you unable to work or conduct a normal life, tell them. If it Radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve, can cause major discomfort and problems with a range of motion during everyday activities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); They have shown me nothing but professionalism and quick responsiveness to any situation. What is going to clarify those words is how paralysis affects your life. What Does Your VA Disability Rating Mean? sciatic nerve, it just has to be limited), it is rated 80%. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. It is intended that the DBQs will be completed by the Veteran's health care provider. If you are suffering from neuritis, the highest What is service connection through aggravation, and can it apply to radiculopathy? Veterans may experience a number of debilitating nerve conditions; however, three of the most common include peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, and sciatica. yet assertive representation for our clients. Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Remember, sciatica is the pain that an individual receives when the sciatic nerve is irritated. Things such as your spinal range of Hill & Ponton P.A. Work with some experienced VA lawyers to make sure you get all that you deserve on your first application. All Rights Reserved. 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. It can be hard distinguishing between the three categories and degrees of severity to understand your nerve ratings. Incomplete, moderately severe paralysis is rated 40%. A buddy statement can go a long way as we add it to your evidence. However, if your condition is not as it can cause all the muscles below the leg and knee to stop working altogether. Incontinence can also occur as a result. The degree of severity, represented by a percentage, corresponds to the monthly compensation a vet receives. This is also called flexion. Radiculopathy can have different symptoms and different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. The highest rating given for neuralgia is If you are suffering from any loss of You also bend backward just a little bit, but not much. Also, have your boss (or especially your ex-boss if you got fired!) Then, file a disability claim for your medical issues. Fill out the short form below to contact us. If there is a big bad disability that will get you more money per month, youd want that instead. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 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). You may have another disability like diabetes or arthritis instead, so make sure you get a full physical from a doctor. to paralysis, which is why it is important to file a VA claim for it if you are You stated that you "had an EMG that showed no nerve damage." Perhaps your problem is not what you call the disability . For example, a veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. . Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Radiculopathy, Evidence for Radiculopathy Claims and Appealing under the AMA system. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. VA outlines TDIU regulations under 38 CFR 4.16. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Please complete this form to send us your message. 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? Therefore, a service connection for back trouble is not unusual. If you experienced radiculopathy during military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits for your disability. Yes, any injury that happened during your active duty, even when you were on leave or even playing basketball on the base, is service-connected. Vets who receive a mailed notice should attend the exam to avoid a claim being denied. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. If youre not sure if you qualify, were here to help. 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 The diagnostic code used to rate a veterans radiculopathy depends on which of the veterans nerves are impacted and their level of functioning. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. than moderate, even if it is considered severe. I had been fighting for my benefits since 1980 by myself and I managed to get 50% rating. Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Most veterans receive a rating of 10 to 20 percent. How to Make the Most of Your 0% Benefits If you've gone through the VA claims process and received a 0 percent VA disability rating, you may be disappointed by the outcome. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. We have updated our Privacy Policy. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Secondary conditions are rated in the same manner as primary service-connected conditions, using the same rating schedules. You should start the five year process for applying for VA benefits today. Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, - Learn About CCK's Partnership with DAV and Harvard Law School, Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve Diagnostic Code 8520, Neuritis of the Sciatic Nerve Diagnostic Code 8620, Neuralgia of the Sciatic Nerve Diagnostic Code 8720, Issues with the VA Rating System for Sciatica, Call Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick For Help with Your Sciatica Benefits, Sciatica VA Disability Claims and Ratings, Top 20 VA Disability Claims and Their Ratings, 10 Most Common Disabilities for Veterans and How Theyre Rated. rated 60%. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about VA benefits for back pain. Incomplete, mild paralysis is Already working with us? It's also called sciatica. After an exam, vets and witnesses should promptly memorialize their experience, and date their notes. neuritis. Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. To understand this condition, it helps to understand the parts of the spine: Vertebrae. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. However, in rare circumstances, veterans can experience bilateral sciatica. Sometimes diabetes or arthritis can cause radiculopathy in addition to direct spine injuries. It can be difficult to distinguish between the various categories and degrees of severity for sciatic nerve conditions. The sacrum is the region of the back that connects to your hips and pelvis. Support your beliefs with professional medical records before and after service to demonstrate that you didnt suffer from back pain until after your time in service. Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, irritated, or compressed. The bilateral factor refers to when a veteran has a disability that affects both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. For radiculopathy specifically, youll be rated on neurological symptoms. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? 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. Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. The general minimum for undiagnosed back pain veterans disability benefits is 10%. TDIU can be awarded on a schedular or extraschedular basis. Make sure you work with an expert when you file your claim with the VA so you dont miss anything like that. 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. Be sure to request an opinion from your physician stating that your sciatica issues are likely a result of your time in service. mild, you may only be able to receive a rating of between 10 and 40%. While lower back pain is often treatable, it can lead to chronic pain and disability if left untreated. Higher ratings are reserved for more severe cases. Remember, sciatica may also be a secondary issue to other service-related conditions, so be sure to check with your doctor or health care provider for a medical opinion. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Neuralgia cannot be rated higher If the veterans doctor has provided a favorable opinion on the claim, the vet can submit this supportive evidence in the C&P exam. 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. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. 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. Lumbar is the region of your lower back all the way down to your tailbone. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. The back pain is rated separately, so you could have a 40% rating on your back, 20% on your right let and 10% on your left leg which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. Radiculopathy falls under the larger umbrella of neuropathy, which deals with general nerve damage. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Peripheral neuropathy manifests as weakness, numbness, and pain, usually in the hands or feet. This is the rarest form which means it is also the least diagnosed. The vet may be accompanied by a witness, and they may bring notes about their symptoms and experiences into the exam room. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. Do You Need Help Determining Your Nerve Ratings? Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 serious, your rating will only be 10%. If you have been honorably discharged and have joint or back pain, you can probably get the minimum 10% rating for a disability. suffering from Sciatica include: When one is suffering from sciatica, one I was already SC and rated 20% for my back and 10% for right leg sciatica. These terms, which the rating schedule uses, are highly subjective and vaguely defined. 3,087 62. . We advocate for the disabled. I want to thank Woods & Woods for not letting me give up. 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 . This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. You bend side to side and then rotate at the hips for the final measurements. Am I eligible for VA benefits due to Radiculopathy? These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. The coccyx is your tailbone and its at the very bottom. If you are a veteran suffering from daily back pain, make sure you apply for all of the VA disabilities you are entitled to. Specifically, the veteran's radiculopathy affects the veteran's sciatic nerve. Theyll also check the reflexes in your knees, as well as your nerves. Sciatica develops when the pressure on the When you apply for VA disability for Cervical or Lumbar Radiculopathy, the key is how much paralysis you experience and how often. In fact, over two million veterans suffer from nerve damage. If a nerve condition affects both sides of the body (such as both arms or legs), VA should issue a rating for each side and an additional bilateral factor. Often, those who experience sciatica have dull back pain and a sensation of an electrical current zapping them in their legs. which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. If you think you may be suffering from sciatica, but youve never visited the doctor about it, pick up the phone and call the VA nearest to you to make an appointment. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 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. If it causes moderately severe symptoms, it is rated 40%. 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. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Obtaining VA Disability for Radiculopathy. 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. Here you bend over forward at the waist for one measurement. Thoracic radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the upper back is pinched, and people may experience pain in their chest or torso area. Diagnostic Code 8713 Neuralgia. If you are suffering from total paralysis, If the condition causes severe symptoms, it is Sciatica can affect both sides of the body. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. Sciatica is when the sciatic nerve is pinched or pushed on from a disc. Sciatica is not a direct diagnosis of the problem. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Click HERE to read now. What Does Your VA Disability Rating Mean? Why would you ever want to be denied for radiculopathy? The cervical area is around your neck and shoulders. Often we have clients with 20% ratings for back disabilities who could qualify for higher ratings for their serious impairments. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. The nerve functions, however, it is swollen, irritated, and painful. The nerve is occasionally or consistently painful and it can include a tingling or numbness. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. Different groups will have different diagnostic codes. causes moderate symptoms, it is rated 20%. When it comes to requesting benefits from the VA, sciatic nerve conditions such as sciatica are ranked in three different categories established on the degree of severity of symptoms. Veterans may be able to claim not only service-connected disability benefits but also secondary service-connection that the Department of Veterans Affairs might have missed. Those with lumbar radiculopathy will be rated within the group of peripheral nerves of the low back and legs. The bilateral factor recognizes the limitations caused by these disabilities and how they can impact the veteran. So claiming "numbness and pain in my right leg" works as well as "radiculopathy" (in my right leg.)