va disability for sciatica radiculopathy

This is the biggest nerve in the human body, and it extends from the lower back right through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. This could result in a 20 percent disability rating. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. The rating for incomplete paralysis is If the veteran has objective signs of impairment that can be found via testing, they will get only a moderate rating. The sciatic nerve is rated under diagnostic codes 8520, 8620, and 8720. percent is assigned. Those with lumbar radiculopathy will be rated within the group of peripheral nerves of the low back and legs. Theyll also check the reflexes in your knees, as well as your nerves. movements that make the pain pronounced, as what gives you relief are all Remember if you ever fell, what your daily activities included, and how those activities could hurt your back. Sciatica ratings are usually based on whether the sciatica is mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe. I suffer from many health issues due to the trauma that happened to me in 1980. This includes both medical evidence and lay evidence. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. 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. Increasingly, the examiners useDisability Benefits Questionnaires, which independent medical experts can also fill out. Also, have your boss (or especially your ex-boss if you got fired!) VA Disability Rating for Sciatica and Sciatic Nerve Paralysis Claim The examiners report to the VA Regional Office (RO), where the decision is made. You may be owed compensation. order to receive the compensation that you deserve. 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. Symptoms of moderately severe, moderate, and mild sciatic neuritis can be given a range of ratings including 40, 20, and 10 percent. While you should tell the C&P Exam doctor every detail of your symptoms and even bring a written account of when you had symptoms over the past year, there is a time to be quiet. By using the information weve provided you with, you should understand what needs to be measured and recorded for a proper diagnosis. impossible. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Sciatica develops when the pressure on the Took a whole 10-15 min. You may be owed compensation. If it Once it ends, then the 100% rating will be used for a certain timeframe. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. Of course, the words Severe, Moderate, Mild all have vague meanings. It doesn't matter what you call the disability, as long as VA knows what you are talking about. In addition to secondary service connection, veterans may also be able to seek service connection through aggravation. This could offer a veteran a 60 percent disability rating for their sciatic nerve condition. This can be demonstrated by muscular atrophy, poor blood circulation, and limited movement of the affected body part. The VA disability appeals process is often long and arduous. Since your back is a long line of joints, it can happen in any part of your back too. 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. 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. Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. Once its decided which category your illness falls under, you can be graded either under that category or under limited motion. This may also apply if you had existing radiculopathy that was made worse during your time in the service. Service Connection by Aggravation: What If You Were Diagnosed With Radiculopathy Before Service? Our veterans law practitioners have over 25 years of experience working with veterans. Paralysis is the most severe classification, followed by neuritis, and then neuralgia. Then, file a disability claim for your medical issues. They are very knowledgeable. There are several common symptoms of sciatica. Heres a tip: after checking where youd be ranked under sciatica code, check whether you have limited motion of your hip, knee, or ankle. Do I file for Radiculopathy or Sciatica and if Awarded ask for retroactive pay from 2004? Youll move your head forward and backward like you are looking up and down. In many cases, lower back pain is caused by spine, discs, or nerve damage. When sciatica is serious and severe, it can make life extremely difficult and uncomfortable. rated 60%. This could help you gain a higher rating. to paralysis, which is why it is important to file a VA claim for it if you are In this post, we will explore the VA rating for Sciatica as well as how to file a VA claim for Sciatica. Radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, irritated, or compressed. Radiculopathy VA Disability Ratings and Benefits | CCK Law They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. 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. Fill out the short form below to contact us. If you are experiencing any numbness, This information is not a substitute for legal advice. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is [K.S]. 3 Tiers of Sciatica VA Disability Ratings and How To Apply the knee doesnt have to be impossible to rate as complete paralysis of the They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. causes moderate symptoms, it is rated 20%. In many cases, sciatica is the result of a ruptured intervertebral disk,an injury, or narrowing of the spinal canal that applies pressure on the nerve. Tingling from the spinal area outward into the hips, legs, The cervical spine, conveying sensation to the neck and arm muscles, The thoracic or middle spine, conveying sensation to the chest, midsection, and ab muscles, 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. 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. VA Rating for Sciatica: How to File a VA Claim for Sciatica When Sciatica is severe, it can even lead 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). Sciatica can affect both sides of the body. 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. 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. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about SMC and how you can actually get more than 100% of your VA disability benefit money. Veterans with severe sciatica may require the assistance of canes, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices to walk. Below we're sharing the VA range of motion chart used to rate back . Back pain doesnt often travel alone. Incomplete paralysis can be determined as severe, moderately severe, moderate, or mild with disability ratings as low as 10 percent. 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. However, if your sciatica is moderate or If you dont have a service-related back condition, dont worry because you may still be able to get your sciatica service-connected. However, the most common rating for lumbar radiculopathy is under the sciatic nerve. 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. Common Secondary Service-Connected Conditions - Military Benefits To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Sometimes diabetes or arthritis can cause radiculopathy in addition to direct spine injuries. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices sciatic nerve, it just has to be limited), it is rated 80%. If it is mild, it is rated 10%. The lower . Things such as your spinal range of I have my transportation now. While the injury is in the back joints, the symptoms show up in your hands and feet. This results in inflammation, pain, and usually some numbness in the affected leg. Radiculopathy VA Rating: What Does It Mean? - Berry Law Understanding Lumbar Radiculopathy | Veterans Affairs We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back The VA doesn't have a diagnostic code for peripheral neuropathy, so the VA rates the condition based on the nerve(s) involved. To prove service-connection for radiculopathy, a veteran 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. You've just been rated 100% disabled by the Veterans Affairs. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. The latter is known asspinal stenosis. VA disability ratings for Sciatica fall under one of the following codes from eCFR, Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Code 8520: Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Some conditions involve hospitalization or consistent medical care, such as an at-home nurse, for example. Sciatica is a VA disability that's rated as a nerve issue. VA Disability for Nerve Damage and Nerve Conditions - YouTube Perhaps you already had a health condition when entering the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and it was aggravated during your active duty service. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates The bilateral factor recognizes the limitations caused by these disabilities and how they can impact the veteran. Call today. You may have another disability like diabetes or arthritis instead, so make sure you get a full physical from a doctor. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. This condition is commonly caused byback conditionssuch as herniated discs, stenosis, and bone spurs. VA then assigns a rating based on the levels of functioning and severity, and the affected nerve group. Sciatica itself actually refers to a symptom rather than a specific disease. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Otherwise, the denial stands. If you experienced radiculopathy during military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits for your disability. Any sciatica condition that needs this is rated 100% during this specialized treatment. Please complete this form to send us your message. tingling or pain that interferes with your back or how your legs operate, your This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.. Counsel can be very helpful for a successful C&P exam, and the right preparation can be the difference between an approval or denial. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. mild, you may only be able to receive a rating of between 10 and 40%. Identifying which nerves are affected and how bad will be the main goal of your C&P exam. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Learn how VA rates Veterans' nerve conditions and nerve damage (such as peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, radiculopathy, retinopathy) for disability benefits,. 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. 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. difficult for one to stand up for extended periods or for one to walk for long, Pain from Sciatica can 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. Every case is different, so please contact our certified team. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. sensation and severe loss of reflexes, your rating will be categorized under Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Higher ratings are reserved for more severe cases. Cervical radiculopathy is when a veteran has a pinched nerve in their neck. The disability rating for radiculopathy can range from 10% for minor radiculopathy affecting the hand to 90% for major paralysis affecting all three radicular groups (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar). Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. In some instances, VA may determine an additional disability examination is still required to complete the claim for disability benefits. technician to determine the underlying cause of your sciatica pain. Two or more service-connected conditions, one of which is rated at 40 percent or higher, with a combined rating of 70 percent or higher. 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 It comes with symptoms like numbness in your hands and feet, a lack of flexibility, and even digestion or bowel issues. The call and the advice we give you on that call are all free. Secondary conditions are rated in the same manner as primary service-connected conditions, using the same rating schedules. VA Disability Ratings for Nerve Damage | CCK Law Sciatica is the pain that one experiences 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. You dont have to pay anything until we win your case anyway. You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. 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. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you tough it out and move a little extra, you can keep going on that patrol in Iraq. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. When a VA examination is scheduled, the claimant must cooperate by reporting for the examination. Given that radiculopathy is commonly caused by back conditions, it is typically service-connected on a secondary basis. The reflexes in your knees, as well as Secondary conditions develop as a result of an underlying condition or injury. 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. Mild symptoms are rated 10%. first stage will involve getting a complete history of your pain, as well as Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. complete medical examination by a primary care doctor. is. Back Pain VA Rating: A Guide to Spinal Injuries - Hill & Ponton, P.A. The coccyx is your tailbone and its at the very bottom. TDIU can be awarded on a schedular or extraschedular basis. The key isnt how far you can move, but how far you can move before you are in pain. I had been fighting for my benefits since 1980 by myself and I managed to get 50% rating. If youre not sure if you qualify, were here to help. Often, Veterans' radiculopathy is a secondary. 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. It doesnt affect your arms and legs as much as it affects your whole trunk. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Examples of in-service incidents may include: Veterans do not necessarily need to trace their radiculopathy to one single active-duty incident. 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. Neuritis of the sciatic nerve. your symptoms. Lumbar radiculopathy is a common condition among veterans. Common symptoms include: Most vets went through long periods of standing or marching, strenuous physical exercise challenges, and weapons training during military service. 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. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. We advocate for the disabled. All Rights Reserved. Loss of ability to lead a normal and functional life is the exact reason that VA disability benefits are awarded. You're not alone. Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) - Compensation 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.