When sciatica is serious and severe, it can make life extremely difficult and uncomfortable. If you meet the financial eligibility requirements for disability benefits and you've been unable to work full-time for at least one year, the SSA will want to see objective findings, like an MRI, of the underlying disorder causing the sciatica. Types of Military Discharges Understanding Discharge Ratings, U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erick Requadt. We will need medical records and evidence that sciatica is a permanent condition, so you must demonstrate that it will make it difficult for you to perform tasks that are essential to your job. Veterans benefits are not usually available to those who receive these discharges. When dealing with a range of motion issue, you can receive a 100% disability rating for your back condition if you have stiffening of the entire spine. It is possible for veterans to apply on their own or to do so online. There is a risk of paralysis, so filing a VA claim is critical. If you have questions of a specific nature consider consulting a financial professional, accountant or attorney to discuss. You must have objective findings to support your diagnosis of spinal stenosis or nerve root compression. To qualify for Social Security, you must demonstrate that pain has a negative impact on your ability to work. Once the history of your sciatica has been established, a physical exam will then be completed by a state-certified technician to understand the underlying cause of your sciatica issue. The VA provides disability ratings for sciatica ranging from 10% for mild symptoms to 80% for paralysis of the sciatic nerves. His 18+ years of sales experience and customer service contribute to his success as a veteran coach. back problems that cause sciatica include spinal stenosis ordisc herniations, talk to our staff to write up a lay statement, Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your, sciatica may also be a secondary issue to other service-related conditions, Nervous System Conditions VA Disability Articles, Neurological issues VA disability articles, Their knowledge of the VA disability system is phenomenal, Pain, weakness, and numbness in the lower back, The highest level of pain when theyre sitting or standing, Difficulty standing up for long periods or walking for a long time, A worsened pain after sudden movements such as sneezing or coughing, An in-service situation or event that may have caused or contributed to your problem, A medical opinion linking the in-service situation or event to your sciatica condition (. Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC) so you can increase your rating in less time! Departments of Defense or Veterans Affairs. Is Sciatica a Disability? An Honest Question! - Sleep Savvy Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. Types of Military Discharge and What they Mean for Veterans In general, VA recommends that criteria be developed to determine whether neurological impairment is mild, moderate, or severe in a patient with spine impairment. If your condition is severe, you may also require an orthopaedic exam. The discs typically wear down as a result of general wear and tear, or as a result of sudden pressure. Once you grant SSA permission, you will be given progress notes from your doctors. By combining sciatica treatment and long-term medication avoidance, we can alleviate your pain while also reducing your reliance on long-term medication. Eligibility For VA Disability Benefits | Veterans Affairs Non-performance of duties or poor duty performance. What is Scoliosis? The required information to rank your condition must be recorded by the physician in your exam correctly. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. A number of less common causes of sciatica are also listed below, such as degeneration of the discs and spinal cord compression. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Military Medicine, Volume 185, Issue 9-10, September-October 2020, . Time in a military prison usually precedes a BCD. Unlike the Social Security Administration, which can either find you disabled or not disabled, the VA assigns disability ratings depending on the severity of your condition and how much of the impairment was a result of your service. A service member may receive a medical discharge or separation if a medical or mental condition prevents them from continuing to serve. Slipped Disc. Finally, you must demonstrate that the pain in your back is a direct result of the event, injury, or illness. This discharge is determined via the 2 medical review boards: Medical Evaluation Board and Physical Evaluation Board . Veterans who suffer from sciatica often experience debilitating pain in . Neither The Military Wallet nor Three Creeks Media are associated with or endorsed by the U.S. Hey there, its hard to know for sure with old documents, but CO usually stands for conscientious objection on discharge paperwork. If you have evidence of nerve root compression and think you might meet the requirements of one of the musculoskeletal listings, ask your doctor to provide a medical source statement explaining why you fit the listing criteria. In most cases, the higher the percentage, the more severe the damage is. If you think you injured yourself during your time in service, try to make some notes. VA Disability Ratings for Scoliosis Explained | CCK Law Canadian Man Charged with Stolen Valor and Forging Military Discharge The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. People who have sciatica frequently experience pain down their legs and are unable to walk or even sit normally for extended periods of time. Muscle weakness, difficulty moving or controlling your leg or foot. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability benefits to veterans who suffer service-connected injuries. In almost all cases, disc herniation surgery is a good choice for people with a high quality-of-life goal. If your medical record contains objective findings showing that you have spinal stenosis or nerve root compression, you might meet one of the agency's listings for musculoskeletal disorders. About 3.6% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 (5.2 million people . For many people, sciatica is a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as herniations of the disc or spinal stenosis. As a result of the bulging disc, pain, numbness, discomfort, and weakness can all be used to establish a disability rating in the VA. The veterans diagnosis of a schedular rating of limitations on motion of the lumbosacral spine is used to calculate this rating. Separations can be voluntary or involuntary and may leave additional unfulfilled military service obligations that the service member will need to carry out in the Individual Ready Reserve. If your medical records show signs of a disease such as spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, or piriformis syndrome, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may consider you to be disabled if your sciatica is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. Question really, my father just passed away. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. To understand which of the three classifications your sciatica falls under, look to the sciatic nerve itself. Remember, a single condition can only be ranked once. Commissioned officers cannot receive bad conduct discharges or dishonorable discharges, nor can they be reduced in rank by a court-martial. For more information, see our articles on how Social Security decides if you can work or are disabled. Use a heat pack or a heating pad set on low heat. After surgery and testing, the PEB/MEB determined that I would be unfit to continue military service. 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). Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. The spine is made of bones stacked on top of each other with a disc of soft tissue in-between each layer. Reggie is thankful to God for being a servant in helping our veterans. 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. If you have a disability due to sciatica, consult your doctor about any limitations that may exist. Regardless of what state you live in, its important that veterans pursue the monthly compensation payments due them for disabilities connected to their military service. The nerve functions, however, it is swollen, irritated, and painful. You may be owed compensation. People who meet the musculoskeletal listings typically need an assistive device, such as crutches or a walker. Commissioned officers cannot receive bad conduct discharges or a dishonorable discharge, nor can they be reduced in rank by a court-martial. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. 0 share; SHARE ON TWITTER; Share on Facebook A disability rating of zero is not available for severe neuralgia. Two medical review boards determine medical discharges: the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) and the Medical Evaluation Board (or MEB). So your telling me that an Officer with a drug waiver to get in, Then does drugs and gets kicked out! Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes every hour, or as directed. You served you deserve. MORE: Discover the Power of a VA Loan for Veterans and Military Families. For Reservists, the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. Sciatica Information | Mount Sinai - New York As we mentioned earlier, sciatica is caused by the irritation of the roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine, which can result from several physical activities. June 29, 2022. Sciatica and Your VA Disability Claim | CCK Law You should be aware of the factors that will be considered when determining the location of your symptoms, the movements that make pain worse, and what gives you relief. Receiving a discharge or separation is not the same thing as military retirement. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0c4c95030e954fe7a2d90d05ad523f9" );document.getElementById("e335739449").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Veterans may not be eligible for certain veterans benefits under a general discharge, including the GI Bill. To understand the causes of your sciatica, the first stage of the examination will involve you giving a complete history of your pain and symptoms relating to the issue. You must then submit the form to the Discharge Review Board of senior officers and noncommissioned officers within 15 years of your discharge. Also called a Herniated Disc, this is the most common cause of sciatica. In some situations, you may be eligible to apply to have your military discharge upgraded to a higher rating. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. 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. Go to physical or occupational therapy as directed. If any of your buddies are around to remember it or talk about it, get their input too. This results in inflammation, pain, and usually some numbness in the affected leg. This discharge indicates whether military personnel left the service under favorable or unfavorable conditions, ultimately affecting their eligibility for veterans' benefits and reenlistment. Symptoms of tingling, numbness, and moderate to severe pain with intervention with the affected limbs functionality would be considered moderate neuralgia. To be eligible, you must demonstrate that the condition is severe enough that you are unable to work. You would receive a 100 percent disability rating if scoliosis caused your entire spine to freeze in an unmovable position. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. Here is more information about military discharge upgrades. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Prolonged sitting (more than 1-2 hours) frequently intensifies sciatica symptoms. The SSA will want to see evidence that your pain is intense enough to require medical attention. Social Security wants to know about any struggles you have with basic choressuch as cooking, cleaning, and laundrythat aren't always documented in medical notes. Top 72 Federal Veteran Benefits From A to Z (2024 Edition), 0 Percent VA Disability Rating: What It Means and How to Make the Most of Your 0% Benefits. The type of military discharge a veteran receives will be listed on their DD-214 military discharge paperwork. When applying for disability benefits for sciatica, consult with an attorney to determine if you are eligible. Bailey says a fellow Guard member raped her. For many people, sciatica can be treated effectively and the symptoms resolve. Scavolaris is rated in the following ways: 1, 2, 3, or 4. For the 54 unfitting conditions attributed to back pain, 33% had no precipitating injury. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Equal Housing Lender. The cause of sciatica, on the other hand, is not necessarily caused by a major back injury, such as a ruptured disc. Already working with us? The nerve is occasionally or consistently painful and it can include a tingling or numbness. A person suffering from sciatica may have a variety of issues, including a chronic disease or injury. Can Veterans Get Medical Discharge Benefits When Medically Discharged The severity of the pain can be determined using a scale ranging from 1 to 10. Isnt that another type of Discharge that an individual can have. Ulceration, varices, fistula, achalasia, or other dysmotility disorders; chronic or recurrent esophagitis if. Those who receive Non-Service Connected Pension can also work part-time if their income does not exceed the programs income cap. If you dont have a service-related back condition, dont worry because you may still be able to get your sciatica service-connected. In your physical exam, a health professional will look at your spinal range of motion, your balance, and posture. There is a chance that sciatica will develop if either of these conditions are present. He and his wife have a real estate business. Today,Brian Reesethe VA Claims Insider reveals and explains the 72 Best Federal Veteran Benefits from A to Z. 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. MORE: Learn More About VA Loan Opportunities for Active Duty Military. An administrative separation can happen because of a minor offense to more serious offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), such as refusing to comply with the 2021 Covid-19 vaccine mandate. This takes us to 45. It has an 80% chance of being incomplete or severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve. A bulging disc can occur due to the natural degeneration of a spinal disc or from physical injury. This is because it can offer valuable information on the causes of your problem. Sciatica refers to pain that links to a problem with the sciatic nerve. This type of military discharge can happen for a variety of reasons (medical, administrative, etc.) If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may be granted a military discharge. Similar to being fired in the private sector, an administrative separation can occur for several reasons, including: MORE: Your Path to Homeownership Begins with a VA Loan. In contrast to arthritis, which is a disease of the joints, sciatica is a symptom of a condition of the sciatic nerve. 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. 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). Your attorney can help you with obtaining medical documents, getting favorable statements from your doctors, and advocating for you at a disability hearing. Military Discharge Upgrades Knowledge is Power. The following conditions may disqualify you from military service: a. Esophagus. Remember, every conflict is resolved in support of the higher rating. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the individual case and the severity of the condition. A protruding disc may face obstacles in the VA disability rating process. VA Benefits for Sciatica | Cuddigan Law Due to legal issues surrounding equal employment opportunities and related laws, employers shouldnt ask what type of discharge a military veteran received, unless its about a security clearance or the applicants qualification for veterans preference points. Symptoms include pain that radiates from the lower back down the leg. The latter is known asspinal stenosis. This period is three months unless another length (such as six months or one year) is noted in the condition ratings. There are several common symptoms of sciatica. 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. A veteran can be rated for sciatica in a variety of ways. Hello. PDF A Guide to Obtaining Medical Discharge - Tully Rinckey PLLC Some sit-down jobs do allow this type of flexibility with movement, but many don't. Medical Conditions That Can Keep You from Joining the Military Remember, sciatica is the pain that an individual receives when the sciatic nerve is irritated. The Veterans Affairs (VA) system uses a complicated schedule to rate disabilities, including sciatica. Apply heat to help decrease pain and muscle spasms. These discs act as shock absorbers and is what lets you move around with ease. Sciatica Military Discharge Sciatica is a condition that can be caused by a herniated disc in the lower back. The greater the percentage of flexion you have in your spine after a diagnosis of . However, if a veteran can show that their sciatica is a direct result of their military service, it is possible that it could be service connected. Incomplete but severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve may lead to a 60 percent disability rating. 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. 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. A jury in Texas found Sgt. You may notice that the . This rating is based on a scale of one to ten, with one being the best and ten being the worst. The VA assigns a disability rating of 60 percent to you if your doctors prescribe you at least six weeks of bed rest as a result of a damaged disc. Veterans are free to seek employment after receiving disability compensation, and they have no restrictions on doing so. What is Sciatica? Advertiser Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the authors alone. Be as specific as possible so the agency can get a vivid picture of the ways your sciatica limits you. If you are applying for SSI or SSDI, we recommend that you work with your local Area Agency on Aging. Sciatica is a medical condition characterized by pain going down the leg from the lower back. The SSA values the opinions of doctors who can shed light on your restrictions. I noticed that this was typed in Character of Separation Honorable (CO) Discharge What does that phrase mean? Sciatica (sy-AT-ik-uh) is the medical term for pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve in your lower back. A variety of back problems can lead to a type of leg injury known as sciatica. Use our VA disability calculator to determine your combined VA rating and monthly payment. Veterans can also be given a rating based on their disability applications performance. The presence of a bulging disc in the spinal cord can cause a number of symptoms that may or may not be related to back issues. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. Osteoarthritis in the Military | Arthritis Foundation The job of your discs is to keep the bones in your spine together while protecting them. You may be able to reenlist in the same or different branch of service, or enter federal service if you received an honorable discharge. How do I file for a claim after my discharge from the military? How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! How Does The Va Rate Sciatica - Brandon Orthopedics 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. You have pain in your lower back with numbness below the knee. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of things, including herniated discs, bone spurs, and pregnancy. The decision to medically discharge a person with scoliosis is made on a case-by-case basis. The Military Wallet does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Additionally, a 50% rating for complete thoracolumbar spine stiffening and a 40% rating for the stiffening of the whole cervical spine are possible. Enter your information to join our mailing list. Once it ends, then the 100% rating will be used for a certain timeframe. The Effects Of Scoliosis: Pain Disability And Military Discharge If a ranking or list has a company noted to be a partner the indicated company is a corporate affiliate of The Military Wallet. If your record contains evidence of mental limitationslike difficulty focusing because of painyour RFC will also contain "non-exertional" limitations, such as whether you can perform simple or complex tasks and how much contact you can have with other people. Many civilians assume people retire from the military when they leave the service, which isnt always the case.