The “Back Pain” Trap
The spine is unique. The VA rates it almost entirely on Range of Motion (how far you can bend). Because of this, most veterans are capped at 10% or 20%, even with severe pain.
Enter Radiculopathy
If your back issues cause numbness, tingling, or shooting pain in your legs (sciatica) or arms, you have Radiculopathy.
- This is rated separately from your back.
- You can be rated for the left leg and the right leg (Bilateral Factor).
The Math of Bilateral Ratings
A 20% back rating is small. But add 20% for the left leg and 20% for the right leg, and the “Bilateral Factor” boosts your overall rating significantly.
We see this missed constantly. Veterans focus on the back and ignore the nerves. At Woobie, our AI analysis catches these secondary connections instantly.