To qualify medically for cervicalgia disability benefits, you will need to provide medical documentation demonstrating that you meet the criteria for inclusion in the Blue Book, which is the SSA medical guide. To receive benefits for neck pain, you must have a spinal nerve root compression or spinal arachnoiditis. These two conditions can be the result of a variety of incidents. Here are six of the most common causes of severe neck pain that may qualify for benefits.
After you apply for Social Security disability, your case is evaluated in the five-step sequential evaluation process. In Step 3, SSA may evaluate your cervical problems in Schedule 1.015, Skeletal Spine Disorders that Result in Nerve Root Compromise. This list requires pain, paresthesia or muscle fatigue AND neurological signs on physical examination (i.e. muscle weakness, signs of nerve root involvement) AND objective tests demonstrating nerve root involvement (CT, MRI or X-ray) AND the need for bilateral assistive devices OR the inability to use one of the upper limbs while the other limb needs to be used for the assistive device.
The VA qualifies cervicalgia under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Program for Qualifying Disabilities, General Rating Formula for Spinal Illnesses and Injuries, DC 5237, Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain (Neck Pain). The VA recognizes neck pain or cervicalgia as a disability that must be compensated for if it is caused by military service. The classification of VA of cervicalgia will be decided based on the severity of the symptoms and how much they limit a person’s movement or range of motion. A C%26P test for cervicalgia (neck pain) involves a series of questions, including a physical exam, diagnostic tests (x-rays, if none have been done), and a range of motion (ROM) test with a goniometer.
These conditions include cervical cancer, ankylosing spondylitis, cervicalgia, spinal stenosis, and others. The VA rates cervicalgia under Title 38 of the CFR, Part 4, Program for Grading Disabilities, Overall Scoring Formula for the Spine as follows.
