SSDI applicants can receive up to 12 months of retroactive pay, depending on when the SSA determines their disability began.
To obtain a 100% VA disability rating for back pain on its own, there must be a total immobilization of the spine, where both the thoracolumbar (lower/middle back) and cervical (neck) areas show no mobility.
As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disability rating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease.
If you have a mental health disorder that has been diagnosed by a medical professional, you may be eligible for a 70% VA disability rating. To get this rating, you will need to submit evidence to the VA showing that your disorder is severe enough to warrant a 70% rating. 🔶 Helpful resources for disabled veterans ---
Benefits of an 80% VA Disability Rating
Health Care: Full access to VA health care services, including no-cost treatment for service-connected conditions. Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E): Support with job training and employment tailored to your specific needs.
The VA disability ratings for back pain range from 10% to 100%, determined by the severity and impact on daily functions. Specific conditions like intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) have detailed rating criteria based on incapacitating episodes.
For instance, medical documentation must demonstrate compromised nerve roots or spinal cord that results in limited movement, chronic pain, or reflex loss. It's not uncommon for claims based solely on DDD to be denied unless they are accompanied by additional physical or mental problems.
Degenerative Disc Disease Settlement Values Are Also Lower
For degenerative disc disease injury, the average jury award is $51,678 ($11,482 median). For aggravation of preexisting disc injuries, the average award is $152,932 ($29,379 median).
Generally, your condition must prevent you from working. It also must be “severe.” That includes limiting your ability to perform essential work like walking, standing, or lifting things for at least a year.
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.
The maximum SSDI will provide in back payments is 12 months. Your disability would have to start 12 months before you applied to receive the maximum in SSDI benefits.
The so-called “five-year rule” for Social Security disability allows people who have already received disability benefits to skip a required waiting period in the re-application process after they've returned to work.
These can include income levels, the severity and duration of your condition, and the degree you cooperate with medical professionals and the SSA. It is not an exhaustive list, however. Other disqualifiers can also include imprisonment and fraudulent activity.
The good news: Symptoms don't typically progress. "A diagnosis in your 30s or 40s doesn't mean you'll be in a wheelchair by 70," says Matthew Colman, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Rush. "In fact, with aging, the degenerative process sometimes burns out to a point where it causes less pain."
However, some patients may find that they don't respond to treatment well enough to overcome the numbness, weakness, and balance problems associated with spinal canal stenosis, making it a permanent disability. If this happens to you and you can't work or earn a living, you may file a spinal stenosis disability claim.
To obtain a 100% VA disability rating for a spinal problem, you'll need to show that your “entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position.” Let's break this down a bit more: Entire spine: Both your lower and middle back (thoracolumbar spine) and your neck (cervical spine).
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – The maximum payment is $3,822 a month (up from $3,627 in 2023). The maximum family benefit for SSDI is about 85% to 150% of the disabled worker's benefit. The maximum payment at full retirement age is $3,822 monthly.
To qualify for a 100 percent TDIU rating, the Veteran must have one disability rated at 60 percent or higher or two or more disabilities that have a combined rating of at least 70 percent, with one rated at 40 percent or higher.
A: Generally, the most overlooked disabilities are mental health disorders. These include depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, to name a few. They are often overlooked and misunderstood. These conditions also affect each person differently, so there is no formula to evaluate the severity of a condition.
Do not tell the doctor you are “okay,” “fine,” or “pretty good” when you are there for an assessment of your condition. Even saying this out of habit could jeopardize your claim. Be honest about your complaints, symptoms, and other details of your condition.
Chronic Diseases: The Leading Cause of Death and Disability in the United States. Chronic diseases--such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes--are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.