✔️Join VA Claims Insider Elite, get instant access to the ELITE Experience Portal (EEP) and $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources TODAY, and obtain a VA DBQ and Medical Nexus Letters: Veterans will learn everything they need to know about Lumbosacral or Low Back Spine Conditions!
Low Back Disabilities Timestamp:
1:41 Difference between Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar & Sacral areas of your back
3:20 Primary back conditions among Veterans
11:55 Common Secondary Conditions to Low Back Disabilities
12:08 Radiculopathy (Nerve Pain coming from your spine)
13:45 Symptoms of Radiculopathy
14:50 Compensation & Pension Exams for Low Back Disabilities
19:00 How Low Back Disabilities are Rated by the VA
One of the most common disabilities among Veterans is Back Issues!
Now, this should not come as a shock.
In the military, regardless of job or duty, you will, at some point, have to do rigorous physical training.
Some jobs require more physical activity and put you at a higher risk of injury.
Regardless, many Veterans may very well at some point have back issues that were caused or made worse by their active duty service.
To understand what area of your back your injuries are coming from, it is helpful to know the four major regions of your spine!
Cervical Spine - Neck
Thoracic Spine - Upper Back
Lumbar Spine - Lower Back
Sacral Region - Bottom of the Spine
In this video, Dr. Lara is specifically talking about the Lumbar Spine or the Lumbosacral Region (Lower Back).
Some common Primary Low Back Disabilities among Veterans Include:
Lumbosacral Strain
-Spinal Stenosis
-Spondylolisthesis
-Ankylosing Spondylitis
-Spinal Fusions
-Vertebrae Fracture
-General Arthritis of the spine
-Herniated Disc
-Coccyx (tailbone)
These are all conditions ratable by the VA for low back disabilities.
A common Secondary Back Disability to anyone of the above mentioned Primary Disabilities is Radiculopathy.
Radiculopathy stems from the spine and is typically a secondary condition to compression or inflammation of a spinal nerve.
The pain is described as a radiating sharp or shooting pain that runs down the back of the leg and into the calve and foot.
HOW DOES THE VA RATE LOW BACK DISABILITIES?
If you are filing a claim for a Low Back Injury that was caused or made worse by your active duty service, you will most likely have to attend a Compensation & Pension Exam (C&P).
These exams revolve mainly around Range of Motion Testing but also include you describing your symptoms and even some sensation testing.
Veterans Disability Benefits For Lumbosacral or Low Back Disabilities break down like this:
100%– entire spine affected by unfavorable ankylosis (the abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to fusion of the bones)
50%– the entire thoracolumbar (middle and lower) spine affected by unfavorable ankylosis
40%– the entire cervical (upper) spine affected by unfavorable ankylosis; or, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine
30%– favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less
20%– forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees
10% – forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees
If you are suffering from any Lower Back Disabilities, and you believe that it was caused or made worse by your military service, you are entitled to disability compensation by the VA.
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