How to Get a Scoliosis VA Rating (The Ultimate Guide) (2023)

FAQs

How to Get a Scoliosis VA Rating (The Ultimate Guide)? ›

If you are considering filing disability claims for scoliosis, you need to receive an official diagnosis from a doctor with a diagnosis code confirming the scoliosis. You will also need to provide documentation that proves your military service caused your scoliosis or caused it to become worse.

The VA offers disability benefits for a variety of back and spinal conditions connected to or aggravated by military service. One of those conditions is scoliosis, which is rated under the VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine between 10% and 100%.

A nexus letter can connect the veteran's service to their scoliosis. It will need to be provided by a medical provider, and often will draw upon medical evidence. In order to link the veteran's condition to service, there will likely need to be evidence of an in-service event, illness, or injury.

Scoliosis is also one of the more difficult disorders to receive benefits for due to the variety of treatments available to help. Reasons your scoliosis claim may have been denied include: Your medical diagnosis/imaging did not show evidence of a compromised nerve root.

In general, a curve is considered significant if it is greater than 25 to 30 degrees. Curves exceeding 45 to 50 degrees are considered severe and often require more aggressive treatment.

Severe Scoliosis in Adults

At a Cobb angle measurement of 40 - 60+ degrees, this is classified as 'severe scoliosis'. Traditional treatment: this might seem surprising, but even with a 40 - 60+ degree of curvature, treatment would still consist of medications to address symptoms.

Scoliosis can range largely in its severity, but its effects can be debilitating. If your condition is hindering your ability to perform the functions of your job, you may be able to file for long-term disability benefits. Scoliosis can hinder a physical or sedentary occupation.

The more pronounced the curves become, the harder the surrounding muscles have to work to keep the body aligned and balanced. This causes them to wear out more easily. Additionally, severe scoliosis can put pressure on the chest cavity, eventually restricting the ability to breathe, which can cause chronic fatigue.

Is Scoliosis a Disability? Yes, scoliosis is a disability according to the SSA. If the curvature has impacts on your health and ability to work, then the SSA may approve you for disability benefits. In fact, not being ability to work can be one of the most important signs your disability claim will be approved.

You can file for a rating increase if your pain has worsened, or you can also apply for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). TDIU requires that you have one condition with at least a 60% rating or two disabilities that add up to 70%.

How do I get a disability check for scoliosis? ›

You may qualify by meeting an Adult Medical Listing in Social Security's listing of impairments (aka the Blue Book). If you do not meet the severity level of one of the listings in the blue book, you can still qualify. For this, you have to prove that your scoliosis prevents you from working.

The SSA has a comprehensive list of considered disabilities, and while there is no specific section for scoliosis, it would fall under Section 1.00 'Musculoskeletal System' and then would be further specified in Section 1.04 under 'Disorders of the Spine'.

The average wait for surgery was 24 months (range, 17-30 mo). The mean curve progression was 25.3° while on the waitlist, from an average of 52° to 77°.

The Cobb angle measurement is often described as the gold standard for assessing scoliosis. It's measured by determining the most tilted vertebrae in each curve.

At 60 degrees, scoliosis is still considered severe, with symptoms being overt, the condition being painful, especially for adults, and the risk of complications being high.

Risser 5 is the last Risser sign. It indicates skeletal maturity. An x-ray will show complete ossification and fusion of the iliac crest apophysis. An example of Risser 5, as seen on a pelvic x-ray.

Generally speaking, scoliosis does not cause pain in the early stages. However, scoliosis pain and symptoms become prominent once the scoliotic curve progress beyond a 30-degree curve. Generally, a scoliotic curve is not painful in adolescents.

There are four types of scoliosis: congenital, idiopathic, neuromuscular, and degenerative².

In some cases of scoliosis, particularly those affecting adults, the bones in the spine compress nearby nerves. In severe cases, this can cause problems such as: back and leg pain. numbness or weakness in the legs.

Does scoliosis get worse with age? ›

Does Scoliosis Get Worse With Age? If your doctor didn't treat idiopathic scoliosis when you were a child or adolescent, it can worsen with age. If your spinal curvature as an adolescent was less than 30 degrees, it's unlikely to deteriorate. If it was over 50 degrees, it's more likely to get worse.

The one internal organ most frequently affected by severe scoliosis is the lungs. Severe scoliosis in the thoracic area of the spine (upper back) causes chest wall deformities, which can push the lungs into abnormal, restrictive shapes.

The connection between scoliosis and weight loss/weight gain appears to be more indirect, than direct. Certain symptoms (pain and mobility issues) can cause a patient to respond in a way that leads to weight gain, but that's more about patient-response, than a direct effect of the condition.

The precise causes of degenerative scoliosis or associated spinal osteoarthritis are not known, but the condition is clearly aggravated by daily wear and tear, microtraumas and repetitive activities that jar the spine, such as using a jackhammer. Less frequently, it is caused by a fall or other trauma.

Patients afflicted with these conditions often develop scoliosis and/or kyphosis or round back. This is frequently associated with back pain, difficulty sitting in a wheelchair, and loss of walking ability over time.

Scoliosis & the Wheelchair User

So because of that, scoliosis tends to be fairly prevalent over time.” So while scoliosis usually isn't the reason your client is in his/her wheelchair, it is likely a side effect of the primary mobility-related condition.

Anything that looks abnormal in the back or ribcage -- like a hump -- might be a sign of scoliosis. If your spine is curved, your doctor may use a tool called a scoliometer to estimate its angle. To see the curve more clearly, they'll order standing X-rays of your spine from the back and from the side.

Tinnitus. Tinnitus, otherwise known as “Ringing-in-the-Ear-Syndrome” is by far the #1 easiest VA disability to claim. Tinnitus is when you experience ringing, hissing, buzzing, or other noises in one or both of your ears.

VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level.

What is moderate scoliosis? ›

Moderate scoliosis is a spinal curvature measuring 25°-44° according to Cobb angle (measured on an AP/PA scoliosis xray).

In adults, scoliosis symptoms can cause a gradual loss of function. They include: Low back pain and stiffness. Numbness, cramping, and shooting pain in the legs from pinched nerves.

In Conclusion. If scoliosis is a result of a traumatic experience, it could be considered a spinal cord or back injury.

Although congenital scoliosis is present at birth, it may not be obvious that a child has it right away. Congenital scoliosis often gets worse as a child grows. Common signs and symptoms of congenital scoliosis include one or more of the following: uneven hip heights or positions.

Scoliosis is when the spine curves sideways, usually into the shape of an S or a C. An S-shaped curve is also called a double curve. A C-shaped curve is also called a single curve.

Children can be screened at any age, although idiopathic scoliosis is more commonly discovered during a child's growth spurt (10 to 15 years old). The Scoliosis Research Society recommends that girls be screened twice, at 10 and 12 years of age (grades 5 and 7), and boys once at 12 or 13 years of age (grades 8 or 9).

Scoliosis can be easy to miss

One reason scoliosis isn't being spotted? Mild idiopathic scoliosis typically does not cause any symptoms and can easily go unnoticed by both the child and their parents or caregivers.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This diagnostic test may be required by the surgeon to make sure there are no concerns with your child's nerves or spinal cord before surgery. Usually, an MRI is ordered for children with larger curves or for children with other medical conditions.

Congenital scoliosis is a rare condition that develops in the womb and lingers after birth. About one in 10,000 babies have this condition. Congenital scoliosis is usually corrected with surgery. Neuromuscular/myopathic scoliosis develops in wheelchair-bound individuals.

What is mildest scoliosis? ›

Mild scolioisis is considered a curve that's between 10 and 25 degrees variance from a normal spine alignment. The cause of scoliosis for most teens and children is unknown (called idiopathic scoliosis) though doctors and researchers acknowledge that a combination of elements are integral to the disease's development.

Scoliosis at 10 Degrees

It's the spine's natural curves that give it the appearance of being straight when viewed from the front or back and a soft 'S' shape when viewed from the sides.

In most cases of idiopathic scoliosis, the curve develops around the time the patient hits puberty, then continues to progress throughout their adolescence until their spine has finished growing (usually at age 16-18).

What does scoliosis pain feel like? Children or teens who have scoliosis don't generally experience pain. However, degenerative adult scoliosis can cause symptoms such as achiness or stiffness in the mid to low back or numbness and weakness in your leg.

Appearance. As scoliosis worsens, it can cause more noticeable changes — including uneven hips and shoulders, prominent ribs, and a shift of the waist and trunk to the side. People with scoliosis often become self-conscious about their appearance.

Most commonly, this is detected by noticing a hump on the ribs or flank, between the ribs and hip, after asking the child to bend forward. The tilt produced in the back can be measured in degrees by a level; seven degrees or more is considered significant for scoliosis.

Severe spinal deformity.

Degenerative scoliosis rarely impinges or irritates the spinal cord (or the cauda equina nerve bundle beneath the spinal cord) enough to cause significant leg weakness or bladder/bowel control problems.

A 40 percent rating is the maximum schedular rating for limitation of motion of the lumbosacral spine under Diagnostic Code 5292. The Board has considered rating the veteran's low back disability under all potentially applicable diagnostic codes to determine whether a more favorable rating is warranted.

VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level.

How does the VA rate the spine? ›

In most cases, VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine under 38 CFR § 4.71a to evaluate back conditions, including low back pain. This general rating formula is based primarily on range of motion, or the measurement of the amount of movement around a specific joint or body part.

Unlike other disabilities, erectile dysfunction is not given a rating schedule but instead, uses the following to determine compensation: Code 7520 Partial removal of the penis. This gives a rating of 30%.

What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.

Tinnitus. Tinnitus, otherwise known as “Ringing-in-the-Ear-Syndrome” is by far the #1 easiest VA disability to claim. Tinnitus is when you experience ringing, hissing, buzzing, or other noises in one or both of your ears.

For example, a veteran with a mental health disorder such as anxiety may receive a 30% VA disability rating if the veteran can generally function satisfactorily in terms of behavior, self-care, and communication, but may occasionally suffer a decrease in work efficiency and periods of inability to perform occupations ...

Back conditions often prevent people from working and cause financial hardships for them and their families. If you have back pain that affects your ability to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Many veterans with significant functional loss, pain, and difficulty working might initially only obtain a 10 or 20 percent rating. In fact, the average VA disability rating for back pain is only 10 percent.

What is the average VA rating for degenerative disc disease? ›

The VA generally rates degenerative disc disease between 10 and 20%, depending on the number of joints affected.