This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. If you cant straighten it, you might get up to a 50% disability rating. It most commonly affects women, and often develops in middle age. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. In these cases, veterans do not need to establish service-related connections, even if they do not have medical evidence linking their currently diagnosed arthritis to a particular incident or injury during service. The nature of military service creates wear and tear on the muscles and bones of the back and spine, leading to chronic conditions later in life. The scale the VA uses to rate rheumatoid arthritis has four tiers at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100%. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Arthritis is a common condition that can cause pain and difficulty moving. You may be entitled to compensation and health care Great! Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 To diagnose, the doctor may perform certain tests and physical examinations, as well as examine the persons medical history. This benefit compensates veterans at the 100 percent rating level, even if their disability rating may be less than that. So, if you have arthritis and a meniscus condition in your knee, you can only receive a rating for one of the two conditions, whichever gives the higher rating. We never charge a fee to help you apply for disability benefits or increase your disability rating you only pay if we are successful and win your case case. Perhaps more importantly, VA disability benefits give these veterans free access to the latest medical treatments. To treat rheumatoid arthritis, a person may be prescribed certain medications to reduce symptoms and keep inflammation at the lowest possible level. Attorney Gang is frequently in the news with commentary on issues affecting veterans. It can also affect other organs in the body. Thanks, Woods and Woods please keep up what you do in helping disabled veterans like myself. Make sure you are clear to the VA if your affected joints keep you from being able to do your normal job. Range of motion and pain levels are key factors to your disability rating. Even when conditions are completely debilitating, many veterans only have an 80% disability rating for arthritis and conditions related to joint pain. YWYwZmRjOTFmMjAwZTBiYWZmODU4YzJkYjNiNjcxOGRkNTA2MTM4MTk3NWU5 Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 There are generally two pathways to become eligible for TDIU: Veterans with multiple conditions may have a combined rating which would make them eligible for TDIU. Military service takes a significant toll on a veterans body. For instance, knee flexion is the measure of how far you can bend your knee. TDIU is the equivalent of a 100% disability rating, entitling you to the same amount of compensation each month. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Osteoarthritis will show up in your knee or elbow if you wear them out, but RA is different. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 Veterans who do not wish to take medication or for whom drug treatment is not especially effective can join self-management classes and physical activity classes to help with their symptoms. Hands are one of the common areas in which people develop OA. eyJtZXNzYWdlIjoiMDlhNTFlMzMwZjNiMmRlYWZkMTFlZWVkMmVmNzY3NmI0 Again I want to thank everyone at woods and woods because y'all changed my life for the better and I will forever be grateful. ODlmNmRiN2VhYjJiNWNmZDJjNDJmOGY0ZjVmNDc0MWI4ZGI0ODQzMWM5ZmE2 Military burn pits are large areas of land where waste was incinerated by the military and its contractors. Sometimes people have improved movement and fewer flare-ups which results in losing some of their VA benefits. VA Disability Rating for Arthritis in Your Hands or Trigger Finger Remember that rheumatoid arthritis starts in smaller joints first. Since swollen achy ankles can be caused by a number of things, you might not look for the RA diagnosis right away. If you are within your first year of being out of the service, though, do it! OTM5ZWUwOWQ3MTgxZWZlMmY5OWYwMzU0MTIyYzI0MTNhY2FiYTRhNmEyZDBi The VA wont let you double dip on any disability, so if you get a 10% rating for poor flexion in your knee, they wont consider giving you 30% for arthritis pain in the same knee. Copyright 2022. In comparison, a grade of 60% will be given if their ailment causes them to lose weight, anemia, or a reduction in their general health on more than four occasions each year. VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis VA rates rheumatoid arthritis under Diagnostic Code 5002. Can the VA reduce your disability rating? Providing sufficient evidence of the pain you experience may be able to help significantly increase your rating. Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that creates inflammation that causes the tissue lining the inside of the joints to swell. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. The disease typically affects the elderly and can cause severe pain and limited mobility. Different from degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition seen quite often among active duty service members or former military service members. Contact Us Before the exam, the examiner will review the veterans c-file. https://www.rheumatoidarthritis.org/ra/facts-and-statistics/, have it reviewed every few years and apply for a change, Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your. Usually, in a direct connection claim, the veteran must show an in-service stressor or event, a current arthritis diagnosis, and a nexus between the two. Some veterans have service-related disabilities that could cause arthritis, even rheumatoid arthritis. For example, two veterans may have the same arthritic condition, but the veteran who has more flareups each year will receive a higher rating. VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis Under the schedule of ratings in the VA regulations, arthritis may be rated under degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. OA is commonly known as degenerative arthritis because it causes a steady decline in the cartilage between the bones. Additionally, he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. The disability rating will dictate the rate of compensation you receive for the injury/impairment. It is up to veterans and their doctors to devise a treatment plan for arthritis. Four or more painful flareups can cause your disability rating to go up to 60%. While we still have our home base in Florida, I'm not sure how they rate both wrists, as mine only effects my left. NDZkYTE0YjBkYzI0OTMyZWZhYjliY2U2MWRiYjgyMWMzN2Q0MThmY2ViMDFl Generally, you may be eligible for TDIU if you have one service-connected condition with a disability rating of 60%, or if you have two or more service-connected conditions with a combined rating of 70% or more and one of the conditions has at least a 40% disability rating. You may also be able to increase a disability rating for knee pain by combining the VAs bilateral factor. Here one of our VA disability lawyers talks about how SMC (Special Monthly Compensation) works to help you get more money for extra expenses related to your disabling condition every month. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Usually, the same joint on both sides of the body will be affected. Physicians should be using a goniometer to get exact measurements for your joints range of motion. This fluid acts like oil between the hinges of your joints. You received a 70% disability rating from the VA. Lawmakers Cry Foul Over VA Accessibility Issues. There are many types of arthritis with different causes and symptoms. It can be rated up to 40% if entire limbs are affected. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. ZThkNzM4NzM3YTY1ZjM2YjdiMGQ4NDEyNTQwOTI3ZTM1YzBkYzEzZGNmODUy Several rating criteria affect the total rating decision. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis Conditions, How the VA Rates Rheumatoid Arthritis and Degenerative Arthritis, Pain in major joints, minor joint pain, tenderness, swelling, or stiffness for 6 weeks or more, Morning stiffness lasting 30 minutes or more. By combining multiple disabilities, you may be able to get your disability rating up to 80% or higher depending on the rating assigned to each. Your knees might not be able to bend very far because of pain. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If you had any of these conditions and took Xeljanz, contact us to see if your side-effects qualify for this case. The VA disability for hand pain (amputated fingers) is under diagnostic codes 5126 to 5156. Increasing your VA disability rating for arthritis or joint pain can be challenging, but its not impossible. Email: [hidden email], National Organization of Veterans Advocates. Joint deformity also may occur which is non-reversible. VA disability benefits fill the financial gap between veterans income and what they need. Los Angeles, CA: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1101, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Veterans often have aches and pains from normal life in the service. The condition is often accompanied by severe pain, swelling, and redness in the affected joint. As mentioned above, environmental factors have been identified as a potential trigger for rheumatoid arthritis. Amanda earned her Associates degree in Criminal Justice and hopes to use that knowledge, combined with her work experience, to make a difference. MTJiY2E0OWY5YWRhNzBjZWU4MGYxOTJkZTRhMDNmZTAyZjFhN2FhZDVjNWQ2 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Veteran Appeal Lawyer assistance with denials and appellate cases nationwide. Arthritis can be caused by a joint being overused, such as in athletes, or by a traumatic injury to the joint, such as a car accident. As with degenerative arthritis, a rating for limited range of motion cannot be given in addition to a rating for rheumatoid arthritis. ZTA2NDJiNDhlMmNkYzhhZGU5M2E2OTFjMWNiOTEyOTZiODYyZDc0ZmRlMjAz A family-owned business since 1985, our lawyers have helped thousands of veterans who are entitled to disability benefits get the highest disability rating they deserve for their service-connected joint pain and arthritis. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am so glad I was referred to Woods and Woods as they have been there for me to fight my case with the VA. All I have ever gotten from the VA are blanket denials on virtually all my claims. It doesnt cost you anything to have us look over your current rating and see if you are ready to apply for an increase. The VA is required to give you the best of everyting, but over 30% of VA decisions end up being wrong. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? Aug 08, 2014 #4. They may not have affected you during your active duty, but your active duty is what brought it about. RA can be evaluated at up to a 100 percent disability rating which is not common amongst service-connected health ailments. It can occur in or near the wrist, thumb, or fingers. This will cause pain and swelling and can even make the joint bulge out. For example, both hands, knees, or ankles may be affected, as opposed to only one hand, knee, or ankle. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. If multiple areas of the body are affected, you may be able to show that your rheumatoid arthritis condition is incapacitating, warranting a 100% disability rating. Although there are many types of arthritis, the two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If your parents had it, your risk of having it increases 4 times over. YjVkOWY0YWQ4MWI0ZjMyNzk2ODU2N2U4NmMxZTAzYzk3MzdmNjNhNzBiMjY0 Rheumatoid arthritis, or more commonly known as RA, is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. MjkzNTdjODAzYzdlNjM3YjcyZjNiYTExYmM2YzVjYzYzYzc0YzY0OGE3ZDJi Its critical to understand that the VA doesnt add your disability ratings, but rather, it combines them using a specific formula based on the whole person remaining concept.