Va Disability Rating For Spinal Arthritis
arthritis spinalThe reason for this low rating is based on the history of disability rating. The VA awards disability compensation for each Back and Spine condition that is service-connected.
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The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty.
Va disability rating for spinal arthritis. The VA assigns rating percentages based on the frequency of incapacitating episodes. Back Pain and Getting VA Disability for Arthritis is a Double Pain in the Neck. The rating systems used for arthritis of the spine is the second most common rating system for spine conditions.
Much depends on the nature and severity of the condition. Flexion between 60 and 90 degrees OR combined ROM between 150 and 240 degrees. These ratings are added together using VA math for an overall VA disability rating for spinal stenosis.
For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. With the types of arthritis diagnostic codes 5004 through 5009 rate the disability as rheumatoid arthritis. The VA has a separate rating system for these conditions.
To be rated at 10 percent for arthritis of the spine veterans must have X-ray evidence revealing two or more major joints or two or more groups of minor joints are afflicted by degenerative arthritis of the back. The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways. For example a cervical spine with forward flexion of 15 produces a VA disability percentage of 30 and a lumbar spine with a total ROM of 120 produces a VA disability percentage of 20 for an overall VA disability rating of 40.
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. 5011 Bones caisson disease of. To qualify for a 50 percent rating a veteran would need to have unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine Because of that qualifying for a 50 percent rating for a thoracolumbar spine disability is very difficult.
The VA gives 100 ratings for the most severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis and when the entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position. Flexion 45 degrees OR combined ROM 340 degrees. Spine Condition Ratings To provide even more value to our veterans this page is only available with an All-Access Membership.
One recent case we looked at rated the arthritis as sciatica a condition related to the nerves in the spinal cord. This severe condition causes many Veterans to be unable to work. Some of the conditions included in this category are degenerative arthritis traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Department of Veterans Affairs does not assign a single disability rating for arthritis. Its important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. These will be combined not added to determine the rating for arthritis.
20- if you experience less than 3 incapacitating episodes per year. Technically the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. Become an All-Access Member to access this page other exclusive content the ability to our Military Disability Experts course discounts and more.
The following percentages are available under the rating criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. VA Ratings for Arthritis It is possible to receive a 100 compensation rating from the VA for arthritis in the back if you are completely incapacitated and stuck in bed. Flexion 90 degrees OR combined ROM 240 degrees.
Additionally he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. 5010 Arthritis due to trauma substantiated by X-ray findings. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30.
When it comes to arthritis of the knee it is crucial that you have someone experienced in handling VA Disability Benefits claims take a look at the VA Rating Decision especially the code sheet. The hard part about back pain is that it can be caused in so many ways. Rate as arthritis degenerative.
Still many veterans only receive an 80 disability rating or lower for their back condition when it should be 100. The diagnostic code for rheumatoid arthritis is 5002. 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.
Their formula looks at the flexion at the waist and determines if it is limited by injury. According to the VA flexibility must be fairly limited to even get a 20 percent disability rating. Rate as arthritis cord involvement or deafness depending on the severity of disabling manifestations.
Flexion between 30 and 45 degrees OR combined ROM between 175 and 340 degrees. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation. To receive a 20 percent rating for arthritis of the back X-ray evidence must show that two or more major joints or two or more groups of minor joints have degenerative arthritis of the back and produce occasional incapacitating episodes.
100 if you are completely incapacitated and are confined to staying in bed. When your back hurts from arthritis pain the last thing you want to do is work through the VA Disability rating system to get a higher rating or any service-connection in the first place. What you read here is current at the time of this writing according to the VA but disability percentage rating procedures criteria and amounts are always subject to change through legislation VA policy etc.
Their rating is determined most commonly by assessing your range of motion. VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion. VA Disability Rating Cervical Spine neck Thoracolumbar spine.
Otherwise the VA ratings for arthritis are as follows.
