Spinal stenosis simply refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal which results in pain, weakness, and numbness when nerves are compressed. If your spine is not frozen, the VA disability rating for spinal stenosis will depend on the ROM measurements using a goniometer. Because c-spine stenosis is a degenerative illness, a person's condition will continue to deteriorate . This means that the effects of spinal stenosis are not limited to the back. All the disabilities stemming from spinal stenosis should be accounted for in a fair VA disability rating. For example, if your spinal stenosis is caused by a bulging disc, dislocated vertebrae, or bone fragments, you may be able to identify an accidental fall, vehicle collision, or any other physical injury incurred during your military service that worsened your condition. 14K 1,344 9. The Truth About Spinal Stenosis: Causes Symptoms And Treatments Were You Denied VA Disability Benefits for Spinal Stenosis? VA Disability for Spinal Stenosis | PTSD Lawyers - Berry Law The information you obtain on this website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Spinal stenosis is a disabling condition caused by the narrowing of the gaps between individual spinal vertebrae. Many people with spinal stenosis and other back injuries experience anxiety, depression, and substance abuse problems. Thus, if the flexion ROM measurement produces a 40% VA disability percentage and the total ROM measurement produces a 30% VA disability percentage, the VA disability percentage for spinal stenosis would be 40%. According to Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space where the nerves run through your spine, causing pain by putting extra pressure on these spinal nerves. If spinal stenosis is suspected, your doctor may order X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or CT or CT myelogram. A VA lawyer can run through all the scenarios with you for obtaining a fair VA disability rating that reflects the ways spinal stenosis affects you. 5238 Spinal stenosis - Veterans Benefits Network To qualify for the total unemployability disability benefit, you must meet two distinct criteria: Note that theres a significant difference in monthly disability benefits between a 40% disability rating and a 100% disability rating. Spinal stenosis is a disorder that affects your back. It will also help if someone else in your division remembers what happened. If the spine is frozen in a favorable position, the disability rating may be capped at 40%. Under the VA regulations, you may request an extra-schedular rating for your disability. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your combined VA rating and monthly payment. These complications of stenosis are called secondary conditions, which may qualify you for a higher rating. You should see a doctor if you are experiencing severe back pain, weakness, numbness or loss of control of an extremity, foot drop, bowel and/or bladder problems, or numbness in your saddle area. Mayo Clinic notes that there are two different types of spinal stenosis: While occasionally a person suffering from spinal stenosis will show zero symptoms, often Veterans seeking VA disability compensation for spinal stenosis will display one or more of the following symptoms: Cervical Stenosis Symptoms Numbness or tingling in your arm or leg, weakness in your arm or leg, problems walking, neck pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. Traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury, excessive movement, or other physical trauma. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back If your condition meets the listing criteria, it will automatically be considered a disability. If radiculopathy is caused by a low back condition, the individuals will feel the symptoms in the lower extremities (thigh, calf, foot). Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. When this evidence is presented to the VA, it may be possible to obtain VA disability benefits. Because the vertebrae are closer together, they tend to compress the nerves that lie inside the spine, especially the spinal cord. Federal Register :: Schedule for Rating Disabilities; The Spine While these codes may seem important, the rating formula is the same whether you suffer from spinal stenosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, vertebral dislocation or fracture or another condition. Disability benefits are paid for service-connected disabilities. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] For some veterans, the objective criteria in the disability rating schedule may not accurately reflect their true level of disability. Under the IVDS schedule, a VA disability rating can be obtained based on the number and frequency of incapacitated episodes in which bed rest is ordered by a physician. Pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of motor control are some of the symptoms of the condition. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 About VA Disability Ratings | Veterans Affairs - VA.gov Home | Veterans Additional medical appliances may be required. When spinal stenosis causes additional disabilities, those problems may qualify as secondary service-connected disabilities. This impinges on the nerves themselves, which can cause pain, tingling numbness, and muscle weakness. For instance, which pages you go to most. You must have a positive imaging test (MRI, . Schedule an MRI consultation today! If the arthritis does not cause any episodes of incapacitation, but 2 or more joint groups are involved, then a 10% rating will be assigned. Phone: (757) 220-4529. In many cases, symptoms resolve themselves with rest, physical therapy, exercise, and anti-inflammatories. Claims involving both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine are rated under the same general rating formula. The RO also assigned an initial 40 percent rating for the disability effective November 8, 2006. To provide even more value to our veterans, this page is only available with an All-Access Membership. Williamsburg, VA 23185. Spinal stenosis is a type of back injury that a Veteran could develop after an in-service injury. These exams are called comprehensive preventive health evaluations (CPHE) or wellness checks.. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. These are periods of acute pain severe enough for a doctor to proscribe bed rest. Abnormal growths can form inside the spinal cord, within the membranes that cover the spinal cord or in the space between the spinal cord and vertebrae. Our monthly newsletter features about important and up-to-date veterans' law news, keeping you informed about the changes that matter. Basically, the VA understands that the Veteran would not have developed sleep apnea if they didnt get PTSD while in service. That is, your stenosis wasnt diagnosed at the time, but it likely came about as a result of an injury or illness that has been established as service-connected. The spine is considered as a minor joint. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Hill & Ponton P.A. Reduce VA's Disability Benefits to Veterans Who Are Older Than the Full Acquired spinal stenosis is spinal stenosis due to cervical disc disease or cervical facet joint osteoarthritis. Va rating of 60%. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Congenital spinal stenosis is present at birth as a normal variant in the population or due to congenital conditions. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Some joints are referred to as major joints, while others are referred to as minor joints. These complications of stenosis are called. Some examples of cervical conditions that are rated under this code include the following: Diagnostic Code 5237 Cervical Strain A torn tendon or muscle in the neck. However, the VA still rates degenerative arthritis of the spine under the criteria listed for diagnostic code 5003. Not necessarily, but its worth looking at your C-File to see if you had spinal stenosis during your service and it was incorrectly diagnosed. I was injured in Iraq on Nov 19 ,2007, I filed my claims when I got home from Iraq, the V/A called me yesterday and told me that I got a 60% rating for. Our doctors know how service-connected disabilities work, so they know what to look for in your file. Secondary service connection occurs when a service-connected disability causes another disability. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Spinal Stenosis: Practice Essentials, Anatomy, Pathophysiology - Medscape Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. However, generally speaking, symptoms may include the following: Most often, spinal stenosis is caused by overuse or general wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis. Severe disability and death may result from the association of cervical stenosis with even minor trauma resulting in the central cord syndrome. We consistently provide experienced, compassionate and ethical representation to our clients. As discussed above, nerve pain in the leg may be diagnosed as a leg injury rather than spinal stenosis. 3 Tiers of Sciatica VA Disability Ratings and How To Apply These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the spine, it typically occurs in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than the thoracolumbar spine (the low back). Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) and VA Disability However, these secondary service-connected disabilities are not cumulative. Your spinal stenosis may cause or contribute to other medical conditions, as well. The three elements needed to make a successful service connection claim include: When assessing your disability claims, VA examiners will look at your medical records during your time in the military and for a period afterward for evidence of a service connection. These types of lawyers have experience dealing with the laws and rules that govern the VA and may have ideas and suggestions for increasing or challenging your VA disability rating. Service-connected disabilities vary widely in severity and type: Some examples are the loss of a limb, migraines, and hypertension. Yes, you can. All rights reserved. If radiculopathy is caused by a neck condition, the symptoms will be felt in the shoulder and can travel down the arm and into the hand. Given this variety of symptoms, it is easy to understand how spinal stenosis can be misdiagnosed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is [K.S]. 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. Yes No An unfavorable position means that the spine is frozen in a position other than the natural upright position. The spine is considered as a minor joint. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Their testimony can mean the difference between an approval or a denial of your case. When the nerves are compressed, electrical signals passing along those nerves can become disrupted. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Contact a VA attorney who can assist you wherever you live and without regard to whether you were deployed. So, they compensate them for the disability on a secondary basis. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, you may be able to file for a permanent spinal stenosis disability. Spinal stenosis will cause pain in different areas of the body including the neck, lower and middle back, your buttocks and legs. Call (855) 873-2604 For a Free Evaluation of Your Spinal Stenosis Disability Case. Most issues that cause temporary (not chronic) back pain receive a VA disability rating between 10%-40%. yet assertive representation for our clients. Examples of a few disability ratings for spinal stenosis are: 20%: A 20% disability rating for spinal stenosis means you have more than 30 degrees forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine, but not greater than 60 . Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain and Spinal Arthritis Spinal stenosis can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the location of the spinal stenosis and the compressed nerve. Veterans looking to receive VA disability for spinal stenosis often develop the disability due to an injury to the spine. have been offered surgery and epidurals havent decided yet but if anyone can weigh in on this.. if you have spinal stenosis DDD DJD hypert,etc are you suppose to file a claim for each one separately? 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. If your spinal stenosis was caused by another service-connected disability, you can apply for secondary service connection. The following spinal conditions are all rated under the same general rating formula: The general rating formula that is used to rate the conditions listed above is mainly based on range of motion (ROM) measurements. To establish service connection, veterans must generally do the following: Evidence to support your VA disability claim may include military personnel and medical records, lay testimony, and medical opinions.