A bulging disc can occur due to the natural degeneration of a spinal disc or from physical injury. Those who receive Non-Service Connected Pension can also work part-time if their income does not exceed the programs income cap. This takes us to 45. The SSA will want to see evidence that your pain is intense enough to require medical attention. Before being discharged, service members have the right to receive counseling or rehabilitation. References to third-party products, rates and offers may change without notice. 8 Types of Military Discharge - benefits Having your service-connected conditions recognized may also allow you to access additional benefits. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg. Veterans who have been injured or sick while serving in the military and who have had an existing condition worsen as a result of their service are eligible for VA disability compensation (pay) monthly tax-free payments. The decision to medically discharge a person with scoliosis is made on a case-by-case basis. A VA rate for neurological conditions under 38 CFR part 4.124a is $414. Can You Get Va Disability With A General Discharge The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Remember, sciatica may also be a secondary issue to other service-related conditions, so be sure to check with your doctor or health care provider for a medical opinion. 1. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits. Veterans who suffer from sciatica often experience debilitating pain in . Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation they deserve. People with scurvy face a slew of challenges, including walking difficulties and paralysis. He is not a Purple Heart recipient. The sciatic nerve branches from your lower back through your hips, buttocks, and down each leg. By combining sciatica treatment and long-term medication avoidance, we can alleviate your pain while also reducing your reliance on long-term medication. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. Lower back pain is the hallmark of sciatica. If there are two equally strong exams with conflicting data, or if the sciatica issue can be equally rated under two different codes, then the one that offers the highest rating will be used. In such cases, the physician or rating authorities can extend this period as necessary. If you need help with your VA Disability case I highly recommend Woods and Woods The Veterans Firm. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I would like to take this opportunity to thank Woods and Woods The Veterans Firm for their outstanding and compassionate work on my VA Disability Claim. But for others, compression of the sciatic nerve causes lumbar radiculopathyweakness and loss of feeling in the legs. MSKIs factored into (1) nearly 70% of medical disability discharges across the Army from 2011 through 2016 and (2) more than 90% of disability discharges within enlisted soldiers' first year of service from . Military records show, however, that Montour served in the United States Air Force from 1999 until he was court-martialed in 2000 for impersonating an officer and making threats. To be eligible for VA disability benefits for sciatica, you must first prove that your condition is the result of your time in the military service. However, when your command makes an effort to involuntarily separate you through a non-judicial process, it is called an administrative separation. The Back and Spine - Military Disability Made Easy You should start the five year process for applying for VA benefits today. Other Than Honorable Conditions (OTH) Discharge, How Military Discharge Information Should Be Used for Job Interviews, Unleash the Full Potential of Your VA Home Loan Benefits, Your Path to Homeownership Begins with a VA Loan, Discover the Power of a VA Loan for Veterans and Military Families, Veterans: Unlock Your Homebuying Dreams with a VA Loan, Learn More About VA Loan Opportunities for Active Duty Military, more information about military discharge upgrades, Small-Business Loans for Military Veterans and Spouses. A protruding disc may face obstacles in the VA disability rating process. If your discharge was more than 15 years ago, you must request a change to your military records. Such veterans that suffer from sciatica may be eligible forVA disability benefitsif they can prove that their issue is a result of their time spent in the service. Copyright Merative 2023 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. These discs act as shock absorbers and is what lets you move around with ease. Visit your doctor as frequently as you can, and describe in specific terms the location and quality of your pain (for example, a dull throbbing in your legs, or a burning sensation in your hips). If conservative methods fail to solve the problem, we may recommend surgery. If your sciatica is idiopathicmeaning that your doctors haven't been able to find what's causing ityou'll have a harder time getting the SSA to find you disabled. Once it ends, then the 100% rating will be used for a certain timeframe. Most active duty service members receive a military discharge before they leave the service. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of things, including herniated discs, bone spurs, and pregnancy. The process by which the SSA determines what you can and can't do in a work setting is called assessing your residual functional capacity (RFC). Sexual Orientation (Dont Ask, Dont Tell). Disability Compensation may apply to any conditions that occur while the individual is on active duty, so long as the conditions are not the result of the individuals misconduct. The VA provides disability ratings for sciatica ranging from 10% for mild symptoms to 80% for paralysis of the sciatic nerves. Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Equal Housing Lender. A sciatic nerve condition like complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve results in the muscles in the leg and below the knee worsening. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. It also provides sensation to the back of the thigh, the outer and back part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. People who meet the musculoskeletal listings typically need an assistive device, such as crutches or a walker. Some or all of the card offers that appear on The Military Wallet are from advertisers. Bulging Disc Veteran Disability Ratings for your VA Application Are they allowed to step foot on a military base or the White House? Some conditions involve hospitalization or consistent medical care, such as an at-home nurse, for example. If you have a current physical or mental disability or an event that occurred while you were active-duty, you must provide proof. PDF A Guide to Obtaining Medical Discharge - Tully Rinckey PLLC When in doubt, check with your human resources office. Veterans with certain diseases that presented themselves after discharge from military service may be eligible for disability compensation. Veteran back pain sufferers receive a score of 40 percent on a scale of 1-10. The diagnosis of sciatica is determined by a patients history and physical examination. Hello. When applying for disability benefits for sciatica, consult with an attorney to determine if you are eligible. A service members commanding officer can also begin the medical discharge process. Remember, a single condition can only be ranked once. MORE: Learn More About VA Loan Opportunities for Active Duty Military. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve is irritated, leading to shooting pain, weakness, tingling or burning through the buttocks and down a leg, or both. But the SSA can still find you disabled if you can show that your limitations prevent you from doing any full-time work. If two exams record the diagnosis differently, then the exam with the most exhaustive data and performed by the most qualified professional in that sector will be the exam the rating is based on. If you are thinking about trying to upgrade your discharge and want to learn the basics on how to go about the process, take a look at Episode # 106. If you think you may be suffering from sciatica, but youve never visited the doctor about it, pick up the phone and call the VA nearest to you to make an appointment. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. This pain may be due to an injury to the spine, a herniated disk, a bone spur, or pressure on the nerve. There are Two Forms of Military Discharge 1. There are two kinds of punitive separations a military service member can receive: Only enlisted members can receive a Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD), and only through a court-martial due to punishment for bad conduct. Truly and outstanding firm. Support your beliefs with professional medical records before and after service to demonstrate that you didnt suffer from back pain until after your time in service. Scoliosis occurs when the spine has a twist or a curve. So, start at the bottom and work your way up. Likewise, a member might not be able to reenlist or enter a different branch of the service. Go to physical or occupational therapy as directed. Each of these veterans benefits have different eligibility criteria so be How to Make the Most of Your 0% Benefits If you've gone through the VA claims process and received a 0 percent VA disability rating, you may be disappointed by the outcome. An estimated 7.8% of Americans will experience PTSD during their lives, with women (10.4%) twice as likely as men (5%) to develop PTSD. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This could result in a 20 percent disability rating. These are paralysis, neuritis, and neuralgia. To understand which of the three classifications your sciatica falls under, look to the sciatic nerve itself. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. "The shocking take-home message was that after a decade of combat operations in these theaters, osteoarthritis and back pain were still the primary drivers of disability discharge in the military," Dr. Cameron says. If your mom remembers a before and after, have her talk to our staff to write up a lay statement to back your case. How do I file for a claim after my discharge from the military? There is a chance that sciatica will develop if either of these conditions are present. The Veterans Affairs (VA) system uses a complicated schedule to rate disabilities, including sciatica. During his military career, he was a member of the Air Force and held positions as a unit leader, leader, and leader of individuals and teams in difficult international environments. Sciatica is a nerve condition in which pain radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, traveling from the lower back down through the legs. Your military service does not always result in the identification of disabilities that the VA provides for. Reggie has a Bachelors degree in Business and Marketing, and a Masters in Public Relations and Advertising. Sciatica (sy-AT-ik-uh) is the medical term for pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve in your lower back. Symptoms include pain that radiates from the lower back down the leg. The most common way to determine the level of pain a veteran is experiencing is to examine its severity. Chester Jones wasn't discharged, but he did lose a job he loved. But, if your limited motion is the result of something else, then you can be ranked for both your sciatica and your limited motion. A VA lawyer is familiar with the laws, procedures, and practices of the VA, allowing them to assist you in presenting the best possible case for disability benefits. Common examples of back problems that cause sciatica include spinal stenosis ordisc herniations. Our team of experts, doctors, and orthopedic specialists are here to share their knowledge and experience with you in order to help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being. Well also look and see if you can apply for more than one to combine and increase your benefits. The greater the percentage of flexion you have in your spine after a diagnosis of . Dishonorable Discharge -- Given as a punishment for a serious offense. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Each branch of the VA has its own set of responsibilities, each serving its own set of veterans. Now, using the combined rating table above, we'd start with the 21% rating and the 30% rating. If you believe you are disabled, you can provide documentation from your doctor stating that you are currently unable to work due to peripheral nerve damage. How the SSA will use your RFC. Veteran veterans are diagnosed with a schedular limit of motion of the lumbosacral spine under Diagnostic Code 5292 if they receive a rating of 40 or higher. Additionally, a 50% rating for complete thoracolumbar spine stiffening and a 40% rating for the stiffening of the whole cervical spine are possible. The veterans diagnosis of a schedular rating of limitations on motion of the lumbosacral spine is used to calculate this rating. A service member may receive a general discharge under honorable conditions if their performance is satisfactory but the individual failed to meet all expectations of conduct for military members. You may be owed compensation. When it comes to requesting benefits from the VA, sciatic nerve conditions such as sciatica are ranked in three different categories established on the degree of severity of symptoms. Many veterans are in Is a medical discharge considered honorable? Sciatica can make it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time. All Rights Reserved. At VA Claims Insider, we help veterans understand and take control of the claims process, so they can get the rating and compensation theyre owed by law. The veteran should receive a rating of 1 for mild pain, a rating of 2 for moderate pain, a rating of 3 for severe pain, and a rating of 4 for extremely severe pain. A punitive discharge can have a profound impact on a veterans ability to receive veterans benefits, serve in government employment, reenlist in the military and more. Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. Any opinions are those of the author alone, and not those of an advertiser to the site nor of The Military Wallet. VA Disability Benefits for Back Pain | CCK Law If an individual leaves the military before completing at least 180 days of service, they receive an entry-level separation status. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Some sit-down jobs do allow this type of flexibility with movement, but many don't. VA Math - How Combined VA Disability Ratings Are Calculated Apply heat on your back or leg for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 hours for as many days as directed. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Honorable (CO) Discharge, the CO part I dont understand. If you have questions about Veteran programs offered through or by the Dept. Some examples of actions that could lead to an other than honorable discharge include security violations, use of violence, conviction by a civilian court with a sentence including prison time or being found guilty of adultery in a divorce hearing (this list is not a definitive list; these are only examples). The schedule is designed to ensure that every disability is given a fair rating, based on the severity of the condition and its effects on the veterans ability to function. This is given when the condition is considered to be severe and causes significant impairment in daily life. Service-connected disabilities deserve a disability rating based on all of their health issues, regardless of how severe they are. in severe cases, bowel or bladder incontinence. If you have a service-related back condition, your sciatica is likely connected to this, as sciatica is usually caused by other back issues. Symptoms of tingling, numbness, and moderate to severe pain with intervention with the affected limbs functionality would be considered moderate neuralgia. In some cases, sciatica may be considered a permanent disability, although this will depend on the severity of symptoms and the individuals ability to manage them. Be sure to request an opinion from your physician stating that your sciatica issues are likely a result of your time in service. They kept me informed of the progress of my case on a regular base. How Do I Establish Service Connection for Sciatica? Special thanks to Jennifer for keeping me updated and returning my many phone calls.