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. Contact Us They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. The doctor cant feel what you are feeling. In many cases, lower back pain is caused by spine, discs, or nerve damage. Sciatica can be incredibly difficult to live with and in severe cases can cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. The pinched nerve can cause pain and discomfort for veterans who experience it, and the pain is often experienced as numbness, tingling, or weakness. The VA rating for cervical radiculopathy is all based on how your shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, and hands can move. One of our VA disability lawyers talks about SMC and how you can actually get more than 100% of your VA disability benefit money. than moderate, even if it is considered severe. Sciatica refers to pain that links to a problem with the sciatic nerve. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. Additionally, a secondary disability claim can increase your benefits if a new condition arises from your current service-connected disability. I bought a home. TDIU can be awarded on a schedular or extraschedular basis. determined, a physical exam will them be completed by a state certified Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.. 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. This was to add SC and rating for my left leg. 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. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] This could offer a veteran a 60 percent disability rating for their sciatic nerve condition. Here are some tips on your C&P exam from one of our VA disability lawyers. 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. 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. VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level. Incontinence can also occur as a result. So, start at the bottom and work your way up. the body. Radiculopathy is a broad diagnosis for the symptoms from a pinched nerve root at the spinal column base. Why would you ever want to be denied for radiculopathy? In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added. Thoracic 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. 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. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. 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. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. Paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) regulates appeals for denials. To diagnose the causes of your sciatica, the Complete paralysis: If the foot drops (it Then, file a disability claim for your medical issues. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Some patients may require more time to recover than others. If you are suffering from total paralysis, They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Am I eligible for VA benefits due to Radiculopathy? Make sure you work with an expert when you file your claim with the VA so you dont miss anything like that. 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. Please complete this form to send us your message. The primary cause of sciatica (present in about 90 percent of cases) is spinal disc herniation pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots. They are very knowledgeable. Popular Articles 2023 Military Discounts Offered by Stores, Services and Online Sites You can download the questionnaire right here to see what kind of questions they are going to ask about your back. the knee do not work at all, and the knee has serious trouble bending (bending The sacrum is the region of the back that connects to your hips and pelvis. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. For instance, which pages you go to most. 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. If you just drop the remote control sometimes but otherwise youre fine, youll be closer to barely getting the 20% rating. Since your back is a long line of joints, it can happen in any part of your back too. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. What is going to clarify those words is how paralysis affects your life. Code 8720: Each of these ratings of conditions has sub-categories which are mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. VA outlines TDIU regulations under 38 CFR 4.16. 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. Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve root in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Both! This is the least common type. If your claim for benefits for sciatic nerve issues was denied, or you believe your current rating is lower than deserved, consult with an accredited veterans representative to discuss your right to appeal. First, the VA will rate the veteran's condition under the neuralgia category. Radiculopathy is caused by a compressed nerve in the spine. sciatica, you will want to make sure that you are given the right rating in 0 Percent VA Disability Rating: What It Means and How to Make the Most of Your 0% Benefits, The Complete Guide to Getting a VA Rating for Nerve Damage. Keep in mind that a VA rating for radiculopathy is normally determined as a secondary condition, contingent on another spinal disability. Since you are agitating the vertebrae in the middle of your back, this can get you when you are standing or sitting. If the condition causes severe symptoms, it is Symptoms of radiculopathy include radiation of pain from the lower back down into the legs, often described as a sharp-shooting, electric pain. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 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. 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 is intended that the DBQs will be completed by the Veteran's health care provider. 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. 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? This compression or 'pinching' of the spinal nerve root is what is known as radiculopathy. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. As such, veterans living with sciatica may have trouble with many activities of daily living, including working certain jobs. 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). Doctors look at your back in three sections. The typical symptoms of a radicular condition depend on the location of the affected nerves. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Radiculopathy is a great example of secondary service connection. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. Types of Radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a "pinched nerve." Essentially, the spine pinches the root of the nerve. Sciatica can be incredibly difficult to live with and in severe cases can cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. Radiculopathy does involve a condition of the spinal nerve, and for a specific rating for anerve condition the determination is based on (a) paralysis, meaning that the nerve has no ability to function; (b) neuritis, meaning that the nerve is irritated, and there is numbness, muscle atrophy, or loss of reflexes; or (c) neuralgia, meaning that the nerve produces intermittent or continual pain, possibly accompanied by numbness and tingling. Sciatica is a VA disability that's rated as a nerve issue. We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Examples of in-service incidents may include: Veterans do not necessarily need to trace their radiculopathy to one single active-duty incident. In mild cases, symptoms but not significant impairments exist. If the condition is moderate, If any of your buddies are around to remember it or talk about it, get their input too. Youll tilt your head side to side and then you will turn your head to look around. Pain or numbness can even come and go as you take deep breaths or physically exert yourself. They are also more likely to be ruled Permanent and Total, which means you dont have to go back and re-apply and risk losing your benefits every 5-10 years. Radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve, can cause major discomfort and problems with a range of motion during everyday activities. The symptoms and location can vary, and the particular area and nerve affected can impact a veterans VA disability rating for radiculopathy. Since that time, we have provided compassionate you viewed to avoid repetition. Lumbar Radiculopathy. 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. If you cant stand at work because your legs go numb or if you cant lift weights at the factory because you cant lift your arm, be sure to say that in detail and get it on the record at your exam. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 The angle of your flexion for your cervical and thoracolumbar spine areas determines what your rating will be. You are not alone! Heres a tip: after checking where youd be ranked under sciatica code, check whether you have limited motion of your hip, knee, or ankle. Cervical radiculopathy is when a veteran has a pinched nerve in their neck. In addition to secondary service connection, veterans may also be able to seek service connection through aggravation. Updated: April 23, 2020. To qualify for the next level up, you need to meet all the criteria of one category. 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. 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. 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. To be eligible for VA disability benefits for sciatica, you must first prove that your condition is the result of your time in the military service. You can file a new, secondary service-connection. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. It comes with symptoms like numbness in your hands and feet, a lack of flexibility, and even digestion or bowel issues. In such cases, the physician or rating authorities can extend this period as necessary. which would make a combined rating of 60% with the bilateral factor thrown in. 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. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. serious, your rating will only be 10%. 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 the veteran has objective signs of impairment that can be found via testing, they will get only a moderate rating. Specifically, the veteran's radiculopathy affects the veteran's sciatic nerve. 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. They fought hard for me and got me more than I ever could dream of. What Does Your VA Disability Rating Mean? Let us know. Back injuries and various musculoskeletal when the sciatic nerve is irritated. Sciatica is not an actual diagnosis of a Neuralgia of the sciatic nerve (sciatica). You can have crepitation in any joint. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Many veterans are in Nerve damage is a huge concern for millions of veterans. Sciatica is extreme pain that radiates To understand which of the three classifications your sciatica falls under, look to the sciatic nerve itself.