Va Disability Rating Lumbosacral Strain

Separately evaluate disability of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments which will be rated as a single disability.

Va disability rating lumbosacral strain. The most common way that VA rates thoracolumbar spine disabilities is a range of motion formula. The following spinal conditions are all rated under the same general rating formula. 20 VA Disability Rating for Back. Veterans who are unable to work due to their service-connected lumbosacral strain can apply for total disability based on individual unemployability TDIU.

Because of that qualifying for a 50 percent rating for a thoracolumbar spine disability is very difficult. 10 5237 Lumbosacral strain with spasm and localized tenderness and inability to work for an accumulative total of one to two weeks a year. It was found I had upper extremity radiculopathies stemming from my Chronic Neck Strain Disc Bulges of C-3 through C-7. 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.

This would be the diagnostic code assigned to a veteran experiencing pain in their neck or back. This severe condition causes many Veterans to be unable to work. To qualify for a 50 percent rating a veteran would need to have unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. TDIU allows for veterans to be paid at the 100 percent disability rate if their service-connected conditions prevents them from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

A lumbosacral strain diagnostic code is 5237. Or forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees. Alexander CE Varacallo M. The VA awards disability compensation for each Back and Spine condition that is service-connected.

VA looks at the flexion that you have at your waist and whether is is limited as a result of your back disability. Veterans often suffer from back and spinal pain after discharge. The reason for this low rating is based on the history of disability rating. Degenerative Disc Disease VA Disability Rating Military service can place an incredible amount of stress on the body.

The ratings for this condition may range from 10 to 100. The ratings from 10 to 40 are based at least in part on forward flexion and range of motion. Initially the Board notes that an August 2018 rating decision increased the Veterans disability rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain to 20 percent effective from October 29 2014 the date the Veterans claim for an increased rating was received. According to the VA flexibility must be fairly limited to even get a 20 percent disability rating.

VA rates lumbosacral and cervical strain under Diagnostic Code 5237 with ratings ranging from 10 to 100 percent. Thoracic degenerative disc diseaseLumbosacral strain 3-39h DA Form 3947 Medical Evaluation Board Proceedings Blocks 13a-e pending final signature Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. This will be determined on whether there is forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees. Or the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees.

10 8520 Right sciatic nerve incomplete paralysis dueto L5 and S1 spinal nerve impingement. For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. If you have a direct service connection for your back condition and have developed any of these conditions or symptoms of these conditions you may be entitled to VA benefits due to secondary disability and are entitled to a VA disability rating for the same. Meaning that if you are significantly limited in your ability to bend at the waist you might qualify for the 20 percent rating.

Diagnostic code 8510 puts the ratings into these four categories. Back Disability Percentages in the Past From the date of his injury in 1969 until 2001. Technically the highest VA rating for a thoracolumbar spinal disability is 50 percent. But I can offer that the examinations performed by the VA are used for both the DoD disability rating and the VA rating.

A 20 percent rating requires your flexion to be pretty limited. The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. Updated 2020 Mar 25. These same ratings match for most of the ratings of Thoracic and Lumbar Radiculopathy as well.

Or the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees. Some develop degenerative disc disease DDD a painful and lifelong condition that can lead to significant disability. 5235 Vertebral fracture or dislocation 5236 Sacroiliac injury and weakness 5237 Lumbosacral or cervical strain 5238 Spinal stenosis. VA has two methods from rating thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

Lumbosacral or cervical strain diagnostic code 5237. Ratings between 10 and 40 are given in part based on your ability to bend forward and move in the other 5 directions. Or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal. The Integrated Disability.

Ratings between 50 and 100 are based on the level of ankylosing spondylitis present. Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.