Claiming Back Conditions for VA Disability
Putting strain on the body is just one of the many hardships a soldier must face. It’s so common, many ignore the implications of such stress being put on their bodies. This is particularly common in young soldiers who believe that hurting their back is nothing to worry about. They soon regret not doing so as the pain becomes chronic.
What are Back Injuries?
Back injuries result from damage to the bones, muscles, or other tissues of the back. Usually caused by wear and tear as well as physical trauma. Common back injuries include sprains, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae.
For soldiers, back injuries are often disregarded as simply pulling a muscle. However, as time progresses and the pain begins to mount, things can escalate and prove a genuine disability. Since they are so common, applying for a service connection for a back condition may prove difficult.
The process is even more frustrating for veterans since the VA tends to downplay the severity of the impairment and the pain that the injury creates. Most evaluations assign a low rating of 10% or 20%.
You can increase the rating, but you must know the type of injury you’ve sustained in service. The different types of injury, such as lumbosacral or cervical strain, spinal stenosis, and segmental instability, will help you properly apply for VA benefits.
Common Symptoms and Risk Associated with the Injury
With so many types of back injuries, it’s hard to pinpoint a common symptom. You may also have more than one type of impairment. The best place to start is by visiting a San Antonio physician to identify any back injuries that you may have.
Generally, if you feel any kind of tenderness, swelling, or bruising on your back, it’s best to immediately see a physician for a check-up before it’s too late. Any unchecked back injury can worsen to the point of it being chronic and leaving you impaired.
The Process for Receiving VA Benefits
Sometimes veterans do not have a specific injury while in service, but it does not mean they are not qualified for a service connection. It does, however, make the process a little difficult.
Many veterans attribute their back problems to service because they worked on their feet doing guard duty every day or participated in high-impact exercises. In this situation, accounts like these can be sourced back to active duty through sick calls you made while in the military or through family, friends, and fellow service members. Once you have gathered all the evidence you intend to use to show an in-service injury or circumstance which caused the back problem, the next step is to get a medical professional to connect it to the current disability.
The hardest comes next, which is the C&P exams. The best practice is to inform the examiner about the history of the injury and how it’s in-service-related. In this way, a connecting statement is made – a nexus, which bridges the in-service injury with the current disability.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer
Hiring a lawyer to help you can help increase the disability rating of your back injury to a percentage that fits the severity of the impairment and the pain that it causes. A disability like this can affect a veteran’s entire life – from driving to something as simple as doing house chores. If you’re a San Diego veteran that suffers from back pain due to your time in service, contact Stephen Brodsky today.
