If this is the case, you may be eligible for total disability based on individual unemployability . Common Signs and Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease in Veterans, VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease: Basic Eligibility Criteria. Many Vets have developed serious asthma even chronic asthma because of exposure to harmful burn pit pollutants. Include. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! I've had a lot of issues that led to seeking civilian treatment, and that has finally culminated in more concrete diagnosis of my spinal issues. Others develop a more serious condition DDD , which is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause significant disability. Neck Conditions: How To Get VA Disability - The Veterans Law Office The spinal disc is made up of a soft disc that separates your vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber in your spine. Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. He or she will gather evidence that proves the VA came to the wrong conclusion. A veterans Degenerative Disc Disease VA disability can be rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%. Read Also: Chances Of Winning Disability In Federal Court. This condition causes the discs between the vertebrae to lose their proper cushioning, fragment, and herniate. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to relieve pressure on the disc. Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary depending on the person. What is the Degenerative Disc Disease VA Rating? How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! It can be difficult for veterans to satisfy this rating criteria because modern medical practices no longer call for bed rest to treat IVDS. Be sure to click the link to sign up for updates on matters regarding VA disability benefits for burn pit exposure. Evaluate intervertebral disc syndrome (preoperatively or postoperatively) either under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes, whichever method results in the higher evaluation when all disabilities are combined under 4.25. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. If this is the case, contact us. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. Military service puts a lot of stress on your body. As the discs burn out, these proteins are replaced by new ones, causing the discs to stiffen and micro-motions to decrease. It can also result in numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities. 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. Instead, many Veterans start to deal with more severe symptoms of DDD years after they have retired from the military.