Causes of Back Pain in the Military

Back pain is one of the most common causes of disability among American veterans. This condition can stem from a wide range of issues, from traumatic injuries to nerve damage and even repetitive stress. Repeated physical stress and trauma are common occurrences in the military, so it should come as no surprise that these injuries are common among veterans when their service comes to an end.

Understanding the common causes of back pain in the military can put you in a position to succeed with your VA disability claim. Even if your claim is initially denied, the attorneys of Gang & Associates can help you secure the back pain VA rating you deserve.

What is it About Military Services That Makes Back Pain So Common?

Numerous factors can combine during a person’s active-duty military service to result in life-long chronic back pain. Some of the most common examples include the following:

The Impact of Modern Gear and Equipment

The amount of gear and equipment that modern soldiers carry is significant. While every situation is different, body armor alone can significantly add to the total amount of weight a person carries. Add that to the weight of a backpack, helmet, weapons, and other gear, and it can quickly add up.

Extra weight increases the strain on the spine, which can lead to compressed or herniated discs. What’s more, this additional weight can impact the way you walk, causing posture issues that only make your back pain worse.

Traumatic Injuries

Some service members deal with serious back pain due to a single traumatic injury. This might occur in combat, but back pain frequently results from training accidents as well. From falls to motor vehicle collisions, a sudden impact could damage tissue, nerves, and bone.

Carrying and Lifting Heavy Weight

Just like with overly heavy equipment, many veterans currently deal with back pain due to constantly carrying or lifting heavy objects during their service. This lifting can result in a wide range of injuries, including back sprains, nerve damage, and disc herniation.

Repetitive Stress

While many service members deal with serious back pain due to some traumatic event, a surprising number of these injuries are directly related to repetitive movements. This can occur by practicing the same drills over and over or even completing the same simple tasks as part of working at a desk or operating machinery. The chances of inflammation increase dramatically when a person overexerts the muscles in the back by making the same movements repeatedly.

Strenuous Activities

There are countless situations where military members are required to perform strenuous tasks or maneuvers. This can include anything from manual labor to combat drills, and they often have a direct impact on a person’s lower back. Constantly twisting the torso can lead to inflammation and even damage to the spinal discs.

Lack of Sleep

While it might come as a surprise, the lack of a good night’s rest can also increase the odds of having back pain. The tissues supporting the spine absorb a lot of strain and impact each day, but they are generally able to heal naturally after a restful night of sleep. As most veterans know, that can be hard to come by during active duty. The lack of sleep can interfere with the natural healing process, which can in turn make chronic back pain worse.

Back Pain Is Now Considered a Disability by the VA

For many years, the VA would reject disability benefits claims based exclusively on chronic back pain. Unless a veteran could point to a specific injury or diagnosis causing the pain, the VA would not treat this condition as a disability, no matter how debilitating it might be. Since 2018, the VA has adopted a new standard by labeling pain as a disability on its own.

This is a major win for veterans. In the past, the only want to secure a back pain VA rating was by linking the condition to some other disability that is already recognized by the VA. It is now possible to successfully pursue a claim for back pain with the VA even when the specific cause is uncertain.

Many Veterans Seek Benefits for Back Pain as a Secondary Condition

Veterans have the ability to pursue a claim for VA benefits based entirely on their chronic back pain. Some still opt to file their claim as a secondary condition. Secondary disability claims involve one chronic health condition that leads to an additional disability. These conditions do not relate directly to an in-service event, but they are still covered by the VA in many situations.

With back pain as a secondary condition, the key to these cases is not finding a link to an in-service event. Instead, what matters is a diagnosis that it is related to some other condition that resulted from your military service.

For example, a knee injury suffered in a vehicle accident on a military base could dramatically impact the way you stand or walk. Issues with your posture could result in back pain over time. This back pain did not stem directly from the accident, but it occurred due to a service-related condition. You have the opportunity to pursue VA benefits in that scenario.

Speak with a VA Disability Attorney About a Back Pain VA Rating

Even if you are unclear on the exact cause of your back pain, you could be entitled to benefits through the VA. The attorneys at Gang & Associates could help you secure the benefits you deserve following a denied claim. The appeals process has resulted in countless veterans ultimately succeeding, and our firm understands how to maximize the chances of a positive outcome during this process. Contact us right away to discuss your options for obtaining a back pain VA rating.