These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. than moderate, even if it is considered severe. It doesnt affect your arms and legs as much as it affects your whole trunk. See the above sectionSecondary Service Connection for Radiculopathy. The bilateral factor recognizes the limitations caused by these disabilities and how they can impact the veteran. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. It comes with symptoms like numbness in your hands and feet, a lack of flexibility, and even digestion or bowel issues. If your condition is severe, an orthopaedic This nerve runs from the lower back through the hips and buttocks all the way down to the leg. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Back injuries and musculoskeletal injuries can result in sciatica, which is quite common for military veterans. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. 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. We have updated our Privacy Policy. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Veterans dont necessarily need to trace their radiculopathy to one single active-duty incident. Start filling out the paperwork if you were honorably discharged, you deserve the benefits. VA does have some criteria in its Adjudication Procedures Manual, or the M21. The skilled attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you navigate it. 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. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Usually, radiculopathy does not require any major surgery. The most commonly affected nerve for this type is the sciatic nerve, which is broken up into five separate nerves depending on which part of the leg is impacted. injuries, which can lead to Sciatica, or severe radiating pain, are quite common The upper radicular group is rated under diagnostic codes 8510, 8610, and 8710. The nerve is occasionally or consistently painful and it can include a tingling or numbness. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. circulation, limited functionality as well as atrophy of the muscles. 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. This only applies to your neck. Complete paralysis: If the foot drops (it Sciatica can be incredibly difficult to live with and in severe cases can cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. Both! Secondary conditions are rated in the same manner as primary service-connected conditions, using the same rating schedules. factors that will be considered. 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. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. As such, the report recommended VA create concreate criteria for determining whether neurological impairment related to the spine is mild, moderate, or severe. This damage can occur due to an accident, disease, or overuse. Under these characterizations, each nerve has its own disability rating for each level of severity. The bilateral factor refers to when a veteran has a disability that affects both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. 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. Hill & Ponton P.A. They keep you informed. 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. 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. Think of the three classifications like levels. Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, irritated, or compressed. 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. This. Nerve damage can be difficult to deal with and often leads to a decrease in What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. Sometimes diabetes or arthritis can cause radiculopathy in addition to direct spine injuries. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. 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). partial paralysis of the sciatic nerve, a 60% rating will be given. You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. Incomplete, mild paralysis is This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Code 8720: These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. The moderate nerve rating changes based on the specific nerve. You should start the five year process for applying for VA benefits today. The pinched nerve can cause pain and discomfort for veterans who experience it, and the pain is often experienced as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Theyll also check the reflexes in your knees, as well as your nerves. njured, dislocated, or affected by arthritis. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Symptoms It doesn't matter what you call the disability, as long as VA knows what you are talking about. If you are a veteran suffering from daily back pain, make sure you apply for all of the VA disabilities you are entitled to. If you want a permanent disability rating for your joint pain, youll need a diagnosis and a clear measurement of your range of motion. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. This could help you gain a higher rating. When it comes to your exam, the number one thing the doctor will measure for your back pain is your range of motion. How Do I Establish Service Connection for Sciatica? Contact Us All clinician . 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. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. It's also called sciatica. Doctors look at your back in three sections. Instead, its a precise way of describing the location of the pain. You dont have to pay anything until we win your case anyway. rating that you can receive is 60%. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. If they can be shown to warrant separate ratings, then they will be combined together. Obtaining VA Disability for Radiculopathy. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. pain will be categorized under neuralgia. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? In such cases, the physician or rating authorities can extend this period as necessary. Sciatica most often occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or pinched, typically by a herniated disk in the spine or an overgrowth of bone on the vertebrae. Vets who receive a mailed notice should attend the exam to avoid a claim being denied. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? 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. In many cases, lower back pain is caused by spine, discs, or nerve damage. But, if your limited motion is the result of something else, then you can be ranked for both your sciatica and your limited motion. For instance, which pages you go to most. They are very knowledgeable. added to your overall combined rating for Sciatica. 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. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Symptoms including severe loss of reflexes, loss of sensation, muscle atrophy, and severely reduced movement can be considered severe neuritis. The VA may award service-connected disability benefits for conditions that arose before the time of active duty but worsened during it. 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. Neuralgia of the sciatic nerve (sciatica). 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. Lumbar radiculopathy is a common condition among veterans. Mild neuralgia can lead to a 10 percent disability rating if there are symptoms of only mild or theres a mild intervention with the limbs functionality. If you think you injured yourself during your time in service, try to make some notes. Nerve issues are rated by VA under three separate categories that are based on symptom severity. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Took a whole 10-15 min. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Things such as your spinal range of While the injury is in the back joints, the symptoms show up in your hands and feet. Back pain doesnt often travel alone. is. 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.