Hi Veterans, in this post, I will be covering VA disability ratings for back pain criteria in detail. Are you finally ready to get the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve? Understanding the rules used to determine VA disability for back problems and their ratings will be helpful as you pursue help. How To Incorporate Federal Records With Your VA Claim. Schedule of Ratings. Generally, VA disability ratings for back pain range from 10% to 100% and depend upon the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms, including Painful Motion, Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM), and Functional Loss or Impairment. Let’s start with the good news about getting VA disability for back problems! Sciatic neuritis is not uncommonly caused by arthritis of the spine. Under no circumstances does VA Claims Insider, LLC, provide medical or legal advice. VA Claims Insider, LLC is NOT an accredited agent, VSO, attorney, or entity recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and is not affiliated with the VA in any way. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Muscle atrophy must also be accurately measured and reported. If you’re stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! It is also possible to obtain at least a 20 percent rating if you are regularly experiencing muscle spasms severe enough to develop an abnormal walking gait. 30% – minimum rating. Veterans shall prepare and file their own claim or work with an accredited representative, many of which offer services for FREE. Since the court has ruled CPS is now a VA Compensated Disability, If one is now awarded VA Compensation for CPS then a rating will be assigned to the CPS disability. The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. Pain is considered to be chronic when it is present for six months or longer. If that is the case you will want to obtain buddy letters from family, friends, and fellow service members, explaining the difference in your physical health before, during, and after your time in service. VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain – 10% to 100%. C&P Service has received multiple inquiries from veterans’ advocates, indicating that AS is being improperly evaluated in light of this change. He is also the CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, which is the world’s largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability, and has served more than 6,000,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. Read VA disability benefits eligibility criteria to see if you qualify for compensation for a presumptive disability or other service-connected conditions. Part of the reason we call ourselves VA Claims “INSIDER” is because we get access to information that nobody else does…, In my brand-new 30-minute video training you’ll hear from “Actual VA Raters Who Reveal 3 VA Claim SECRETS (Learn What the VA Doesn’t Want You to Know…)”. Their formula looks at the flexion at the waist and determines if it is limited by injury. ... and that the depression was caused by the chronic back pain. For example, let’s say you have full range of motion for your back, but you have pain during movement, you should be awarded the minimum level of disability for the condition, which for most muscuoloskeltal conditions is 10%. A disc can also herniate or protrude into the spinal column. Brian’s frustration with the 8-step VA disability claims process led him to create “VA Claims Insider,” which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim in less time. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis and is a very common rating for any joint in the body. Any limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) should be measured with a Goniometer by the medical professional at your VA C&P Exam for Back Pain. They will also evaluate you for the following abnormal spinal contours: Intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), which is the condition wherein there is degeneration of one or more of the discs of the spine. How to get a 20 percent VA disability rating for your thoracolumbar spine. Veterans may search for and appoint an accredited VSO by clicking HERE. For example, the following codes from 38 CFR, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities apply: These six back conditions can often lead to pinched or damaged nerve roots, which can cause significant pain known as Radiculopathy. 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. For example, you may have a 50% VA rating for your back due to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. Spine impairment is one of the leading causes of disability among veterans. Chronic Pain Syndrome is a catch-all label for any pain that has been present for a long time, normally more than 3 months. ), Top 3 Tips for Your C&P Exam for Tinnitus, PTSD and More! Below youll find a brief breakdown of how VA disability ratings are determined and qualifications standards veterans must meet to apply. Information listed on this website, including but not limited to, success percentages, disability rating increases, and processing timelines are averages and not specific to any one claim. >> The Insider’s Guide to Nearly 300 Top Discounts for Veterans! Crepitation either in the soft tissues such as the tendons or ligaments, or crepitation within the joint structures should be noted carefully as points of contact which are diseased. If you have multiple disability ratings, we use them to calculate your combined VA disability rating. Previously, pain without an underlying diagnosis was not awarded compensation, meaning that many, many veterans with a back disability were not awarded benefits. For more information and details on how to submit a successful claim, check out this video below: If you are ready to get started with your VA claim the fastest way to go is here! Chronic pain can cause symptoms such as the following: As the above list of … First of all, although it is possible to receive benefits for pain incurred during your time in service without a diagnosis, it is not guaranteed. 50% – moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion. This is a problem when it comes to assigning a Military Disability Rating for chronic pain syndrome. Veterans shall prepare and file their own claim or work with an accredited representative, many of which offer services for FREE. We assign you a disability rating based on the severity of your service-connected condition. Social Security receives more disability applications for back problems than for any other physical illness or injury. For more information regarding chronic back pain, click HERE), How to Write a Winning VA Buddy Letter with the New VA Form 21-10210 – Lay & Witness Statement (FREE Fillable Buddy Letter Template with Examples! VA looks at the flexion that you have at your waist and whether is is limited as a result of your back disability. To assess VA disability for back problems, the VA most often uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to evaluate them. Veterans can download an image of the VA rating for back pain infographic below, which describes the VA disability ratings for back pain from 0% to 100% with breaks at 10%, 20%, 40%, and 50%. VA Claims Insider, LLC MAKES NO GUARANTEE OF RESULTS BY USING THIS WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES, AND YOUR INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY. For veterans who are looking to file for disability benefits for spinal conditions, having a good understanding of the application and appeals process is key. Utilization of VA Claims Insider, LLC’s website or services is NOT required to submit a claim for VA disability benefits, and you may achieve a positive VA disability claim outcome with these other free or paid organizations. As a result of that injury, the veteran now complains of chronic back-pain and walks with a limp. It is essential that the examination on which ratings are based adequately portray the anatomical damage, and the functional loss, with respect to all these elements. A 20 percent rating requires your flexion to be pretty … The combination of chronic pain and the resulting complications is known as chronic pain syndrome. You can also learn more about dependent eligibility. Many veterans suffer from various service connected back conditions, which can affect your back. It is thus surprising that Veterans receive disability ratings of 10 to 20% for back injury, but receive much higher ratings and unemployability for conditions like depression or cardiac disease. (Plus 20+ Bonus Resources), Ultimate Guide to Holiday Discounts for Veterans (40+ Top Options), Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis, Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or, muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; or, vertebral body fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height. In addition to your current diagnosis, you will need to include a NEXUS letter and DBQ to partner with your medical evidence and in turn, prove your service-connection. In determining benefits, the VA refers to the back as the “thoracolumbar spine”. VA Claims Insider, LLC does NOT assist veterans with the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of VA disability claims for VA benefits. A greater number of incapacitating episodes are associated with a higher VA disability chronic back pain rating. [FREE VIDEO], >> Top 10 High-Value VA Disability Claims Explained [FREE EBOOK], >> The Secret Guide to 833 Ratable VA Disabilities [FREE EBOOK], >> The Insider’s Guide to VA Claims for Sleep Apnea [FREE EBOOK], >> Fillable VA Buddy Letter Template + Examples [FREE DOWNLOAD]. 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