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It is an unfortunate reality that many veterans leave active duty with some chronic pain. This pain is more likely to occur in the back than anywhere else in the body. The impact of anything from combat injuries to repetitive stress on your back can lead to debilitating pain. While VA benefits are available for this back pain, denied claims are a common occurrence.
The good news is that Gang & Associates is here to help you secure the back pain VA rating you deserve after a denial. While you focus on your recovery and adjusting to your current lifestyle, we will work tirelessly to appeal your denied claim.
How Back Pain Impacts Your Life as a Civilian
There are many different ways your back pain can impact your quality of life. Some of these include physical limitations, while others are psychological effects. Any of the consequences of chronic back pain should be taken seriously and treated by a medical professional.
Reduced Employment Options
Back pain directly hampers a person’s ability to take part in physical activities. This can have a direct effect on the type of work they can perform—if they can work at all. When the pain is significant, it can limit a veteran to work that does not require any standing, lifting, or other physical activities.
One major issue with joining the workforce following military service is that many people end up with sedentary jobs that include a great deal of sitting behind a desk. This, coupled with bad posture, can dramatically increase the back pain they deal with.
Limited Physical Activity
Back pain can also make it difficult to take on any physical tasks outside of the workplace as well. This can dramatically reduce your opportunities for leisure and relaxation. It can also hamper a veteran’s ability to attend social events that require long periods of standing up.
Like with most conditions, there is often an emotional impact to these physical limitations. Many find themselves facing sadness or depression due to no longer being able to take part in the physical activities they enjoyed the most.
Depression
Many veterans experience depression and mood swings as chronic back pain sets in. The impact on both the veteran and their family can be tremendous, especially as time passes without any physical improvement. It is natural to have emotional pain follow physical pain, but over time, it can lead to significant emotional issues.
In addition to depression, it is also common for veterans to deal with self-esteem issues. The inability to complete simple tasks, earn a living, or enjoy life with loved ones can have a harmful impact on a person’s image of themselves.
Damage to Relationships
There is no question that chronic back pain can cause lasting problems with friends and family members. Many people underestimate how much of an impact severe back pain can have on a veteran, leaving them unprepared for how it changes their relationships. Both the physical and emotional pain can lead a veteran to become reclusive or avoid social gatherings. This distance might be confusing for loved ones who do not understand the severity of the pain. Pulling away from loved ones can leave a veteran feeling more isolated than ever, which only worsens the emotional trauma that comes with chronic pain.
“Pain Only” Claims Have Not Always Been Accepted
Under federal law, you have the opportunity to pursue VA benefits based entirely on the chronic pain you are suffering. However, this was not always the case. These claims were routinely denied until a 2018 VA ruling labeled pain as a disability.
This was an important event for veterans. Prior to this decision, the VA routinely denied claims involving obvious cases of severe pain among veterans because their doctor could not pinpoint the specific cause of their suffering. The challenge with pain claims is that X-rays and other scans will not always identify damage to soft tissue, which is a common cause of chronic pain.
After years of limiting disabilities to injuries or illnesses, the VA now treats any impairment to the ability to earn a living or enjoy life as a potential disability. This is true even when the underlying cause of chronic pain is unclear.
Back Pain is Often a Secondary Condition
Chronic pain is now recognized as a disability on its own, but it is also frequently treated as a secondary condition. The VA recognizes that one disability often leads to another. This is especially common when it comes to traumatic injuries and resulting chronic back pain.
While you have the opportunity to pursue a back pain VA rating directly, many veterans find success when they treat their chronic pain as a secondary issue related to another disability. This allows you to potentially secure additional benefits through VA by establishing the extent of your pain and linking it to the condition you have already received a VA rating for.
There is no time limit on applying for secondary benefits. For some people, it can take years for pain to develop after their service period is completed.
Speak to a Veterans Disability Lawyer About Your Back Pain VA Rating
If you are living with the consequences of back pain, benefits from the VA might be able to help you regain your old quality of life. Of course, claims involving chronic pain are frequently denied. If you received a denial letter, the attorneys of Gang & Associates are here to help.
We understand what goes into a back pain VA rating, and we have successfully appealed numerous denials in the past. Let our firm work with you to help you get the outcome you deserve. Call as soon as possible for a free consultation with the attorneys of Gang & Associates.