Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your. VA Benefits for Sciatica | Cuddigan Law Come and go or be felt continuously Be less severe in your lower back than in your leg Feel worse after you stand or sit for a long time, as well as when you stand up and twist your body Feel worse after a sudden body movement such as sneezing or coughing Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. Well schedule follow-ups and hound the VA if necessary to move your case along. Sort of, if you have symptoms that could be tied to either of those disabilities, talk to one of our doctors that works with VA claims every day. 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. Incontinence can also occur as a result. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. 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. the causes of your sciatica. You may be owed compensation. VA Disability Benefits for Sciatica and Similar Nerve Conditions This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Each one of these areas connects nerves from your brain to all over your body. 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. Sciatica is usually diagnosed following a complete medical examination by a doctor. Once the regional office (RO) issues its determination, the veteran has a year to file an appeal. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. 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. Identifying which nerves are affected and how bad will be the main goal of your C&P exam. Do You Have a Service Connection With Sciatica? Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Radiculopathy causes different types of pain, but Veterans usually experience pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. VA Benefits for Radiculopathy | Cuddigan Law It doesn't matter what you call the disability, as long as VA knows what you are talking about. problem, but rather, an accurate way of describing the location of the pain. Additionally, a secondary disability claim can increase your benefits if a new condition arises from your current service-connected disability. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. Radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve, can cause major discomfort and problems with a range of motion during everyday activities. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Maybe You Want the VA to Deny Your Radiculopathy Claim! 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. You are not alone! To discuss your own case, contact us for aninitial case evaluationat no charge to you. The vet may be accompanied by a witness, and they may bring notes about their symptoms and experiences into the exam room. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Otherwise, the denial stands. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Understanding Lumbar Radiculopathy | Veterans Affairs 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. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 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. Please complete this form to send us your message. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Im not saying you should be a wimp and fake it, but you should be honest with the doctor about where the pain starts. To diagnose the causes of your sciatica, the The nice thing about this is that while you only have one back, you can get multiple ratings for a left leg and a right leg which can then be combined into a greater rating. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Lumbar is the region of your lower back all the way down to your tailbone. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. VA Rating for Sciatica: How to File a VA Claim for Sciatica 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. Total disability based on individual unemployability, or TDIU, is a monthly benefit available to veterans who are prevented from working due to their service-connected disability or disabilities. . Sciatica is when the sciatic nerve is pinched or pushed on from a disc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you are suffering from neuritis, the highest Cervical radiculopathy is when a veteran has a pinched nerve in their neck. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about SMC and how you can actually get more than 100% of your VA disability benefit money. The VA doesn't have a diagnostic code for peripheral neuropathy, so the VA rates the condition based on the nerve(s) involved. Neck pain is a cervical spine problem. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. If you think you injured yourself during your time in service, try to make some notes. This could offer a veteran a 60 percent disability rating for their sciatic nerve condition. Perhaps you already had a health condition when entering the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and it was aggravated during your active duty service. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 given based on how severe, moderately severe or extremely severe a condition Click HERE to read now. Back pain doesnt often travel alone. In addition to secondary service connection, veterans may also be able to seek service connection through aggravation. the knee doesnt have to be impossible to rate as complete paralysis of the Once its decided which category your illness falls under, you can be graded either under that category or under limited motion. The different nerves in your back are grouped together and carry different VA rating schedules. You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. This was to add SC and rating for my left leg. 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. If they can hear your bones rubbing together, joints popping, or your back cracking when you move it, make sure they record it in their report. You also bend backward just a little bit, but not much. These cookies do not store any personal information. rated 10%. Secondary Service Connection for Radiculopathy. This Firm is So Good at what they do! Most Common VA Disabilities Claimed for Compensation: Can a 100 percent Disabled Veteran Work and Earn an Income? If you think you may have Sciatica, but have never been to your doctor, pick up the phone and call the VA nearest you to book an appointment. If your work is affected by this kind of condition, make sure your doctor knows it. You stated that you "had an EMG that showed no nerve damage." Perhaps your problem is not what you call the disability . If your neck crunches or grinds when you turn it in a different direction, make sure your doctor listens to those sounds. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. 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. In mild cases, symptoms but not significant impairments exist. The VA commonly requires C&P exams to rate disability and determine the connection to service. While you should tell the C&P Exam doctor every detail of your symptoms. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. It may have more than one single cause. like coughing. So claiming "numbness and pain in my right leg" works as well as "radiculopathy" (in my right leg.) you viewed to avoid repetition. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is all based on how your shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, and hands can move. Under these characterizations, each nerve has its own disability rating for each level of severity. 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. Common symptoms include: Most vets went through long periods of standing or marching, strenuous physical exercise challenges, and weapons training during military service. Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims. 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. Typically speaking, the maximum VA rating for peripheral neuropathy is 40%, but you may be entitled to more if your symptoms are severe and includes several of your limbs affected. Radiculopathy is a great example of secondary service connection. Already working with us? When there is pressure on a nerve in the neck, a veteran can experience radiculopathy in their shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. A sciatic nerve condition like complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve results in the muscles in the leg and below the knee worsening. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.. For radiculopathy, relevant evidence relates to any element of the veterans claim. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is [K.S]. If you cant feed yourself, you would be closer to the 50-70 level and maybe even qualify for Aid and Attendance. Most veterans receive a rating of 10 to 20 percent. I have dental care because Woods & Woods fought for me until they got Unemployability pay for me of 100%. What is going to clarify those words is how paralysis affects your life. The type of pain can vary from numbness, tingling or burning, and can also range in severity from mild to severe. 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. 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 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. 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. It often shows up in your knees or feet. Often, Veterans' radiculopathy is a secondary. Fill out the short form below to contact us. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. VA Benefits for Sciatica | Cuddigan Law Every case is different, but let us take a free look at your claim before you send it in, or even before you start the application process. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. He can now file a claim with VA for secondary service connection for his radiculopathy since it was caused by his degenerative disc disease. Any sciatica condition that needs this is rated 100% during this specialized treatment. Radiculopathy Secondary to Back Disabilities; . The VA may award service-connected disability benefits for conditions that arose before the time of active duty but worsened during it. When Sciatica is severe, it can even lead 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. we represent clients nationwide. tingling or pain that interferes with your back or how your legs operate, your When the bones in your back lose their cushioning, they rub together and may pinch a nerve. Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The skilled attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you navigate it. 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. When it comes to your exam, the number one thing the doctor will measure for your back pain is your range of motion. Incomplete, mild paralysis is All clinician . The symptom is likely caused by a lumbar or sacral radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc disease. It's also called sciatica. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Sciatica is a VA disability that's rated as a nerve issue. However, a few years after he was granted service connection, he was diagnosed with radiculopathy of his lower extremities due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. I bought a home. 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. 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 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. Radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the spinal column is pinched and becomes inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. It can be hard distinguishing between the three categories and degrees of severity to understand your nerve ratings. neuritis. paralysis is rated 60%. 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. Was the veteran able to go through and explain all the important points about symptoms and experiences? Veterans dont necessarily need to trace their radiculopathy to one single active-duty incident. This is often the result of a herniated disk in the spine or an overgrowth of bone on the vertebrae. your nerves, will also be tested. Sciatica is usually diagnosed after a 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. which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. This only applies to your neck. Radiculopathy VA Rating: What Does It Mean? - Berry Law Radiculopathy | Johns Hopkins Medicine For direct service connection, you should prove the three elements: Once youre diagnosed with sciatica or a related issue, its time to file aVA disability claimfor VA benefits. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. 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. When it comes to your C&P Exam, you dont want to tough it out. 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. I have referred 16 veterans to this law firm. impossible. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? You can have crepitation in any joint. injuries, which can lead to Sciatica, or severe radiating pain, are quite common Remember, every conflict is resolved in support of the higher rating. Secondary VA Claim - Radiculopathy - Combat Craig The location of your symptoms, the 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. Let us know. Even if you have this, it often takes a long time for the doctors to rule out everything else and give you this diagnosis. Once it ends, then the 100% rating will be used for a certain timeframe. If your condition is severe, an orthopaedic 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. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. After an exam, vets and witnesses should promptly memorialize their experience, and date their notes. We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Are you STUCK, FRUSTRATED and UNDERRATED? If you are experiencing any numbness, 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. cannot be lifted by the muscles in the legs), all the muscles in the leg below VA then assigns a rating based on the levels of functioning and severity, and the affected nerve group. 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. yet assertive representation for our clients. However, if your sciatica is moderate or You may have another disability like diabetes or arthritis instead, so make sure you get a full physical from a doctor. Incomplete, moderate paralysis is rated 20%. Sciatica usually happens when the sciatic nerve compresses. Please complete this form to send us your message. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. If this is the case, a rating of 80 The AMA has been the VAs appeal system since 2019. complete medical examination by a primary care doctor. For example, a veteran is service-connected for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. Radiculopathy VA Disability Rating: Cervical, Lumbar, Thoracic Sometimes diabetes or arthritis can cause radiculopathy in addition to direct spine injuries. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. 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. You can file a new, secondary service-connection. 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. Remember if you ever fell, what your daily activities included, and how those activities could hurt your back. One service-connected condition rated at 60 percent or higher; or. However, in rare circumstances, veterans can experience bilateral sciatica. percent is assigned. The latter is known asspinal stenosis. These cookies do not store any personal information. New and relevant evidence can be used not only in filing a claim, but also to appeal a negative decision, or to reopen an old claim. Back Pain VA Rating: A Guide to Spinal Injuries - Hill & Ponton, P.A. Nerve damage can be difficult to deal with and often leads to a decrease in What is the VA disability rating for Sciatica? Back injuries and musculoskeletal injuries can result in sciatica, which is quite common for military veterans. However, if your condition is not as The cervical area is around your neck and shoulders. Radiculopathy is a broad diagnosis for the symptoms from a pinched nerve root at the spinal column base. You've just been rated 100% disabled by the Veterans Affairs. Which limbs are numb or paralyzed and to what extent is how the rating is given. 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. 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. Veterans who do not meet the schedular requirements may still be considered for extraschedular TDIU under 4.16(b). VA Benefits For Radiculopathy - The Veterans Law Office Dont hide anything and be explicit and detailed about what hurts and what is numb. This could help you gain a higher rating. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about VA benefits for back pain. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Apr 27, 2011 #4. The key isnt how far you can move, but how far you can move before you are in pain. difficult for one to stand up for extended periods or for one to walk for long, Pain from Sciatica can Depending on the loss of feeling in your elbow vs. your dominant hand, you might get a different VA rating. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 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. The angle of your flexion for your cervical and thoracolumbar spine areas determines what your rating will be. It causes symptoms that spread out from the back down 1 or both legs. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. the body. Radiculopathy can have different symptoms and different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. 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. 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. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 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. The degree of severity, represented by a percentage, corresponds to the monthly compensation a vet receives. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. If you experienced radiculopathy during military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits for your disability. Discover exactly what sciatica is and whether yournerve ratingsallow you to claim benefits for your condition. Nerve issues are rated by VA under three separate categories that are based on symptom severity.