Since Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, it could be caused by trauma or chemicals, not just physical wear and tear. Veterans Disability Info attorneys can help you increase your rating and get the compensation you deserve. There are many causes of arthritis among Veterans, but the most common are injuries and infections. Since the average VA disability claim can take 5 years, work with our lawyers to make sure you get everything listed on your application that you can. Even if life-altering pain keeps a Veteran from doing things, the VA may only give a Veteran a 10% disability rating. As mentioned above, environmental factors have been identified as a potential trigger for rheumatoid arthritis. One way your disability rating can be increased is by combining multiple disabilities. They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. The rating schedule then steps down to 60%, 40%, and then 20%, which involves one or two exacerbations annually with a well-established . If you were misdiagnosed as having RA but it turns out that you have fibromyalgia and PTSD, we need to get you compensated for the correct rating instead of 20% for arthritis. Protected VA Disability Ratings: When Can VA Reduce My Rating? The VA Ratings Schedule for Rheumatoid Arthritis One or two painful flare-ups a year: 20% Rating Clear impairments to daily living and health diagnosed by a doctor or 3 or more incapacitating episodes a year: 40% Rating Other joint injuries caused by overuse, infection, or loose ligaments could also cause osteoarthritis. An attorney is a valuable partner in all phases of a disability claim. Your information is NEVER shared and kept secure and confidential. Copyright 2022. She joined the Hill and Ponton family in September of 2014 as an Intake Specialist. VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis VA rates rheumatoid arthritis under Diagnostic Code 5002. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. Technically, no one dies of RA. The VA rating for carpal tunnel is generally 10%, but they may give it a higher rating based on the severity of the condition and the hand that it inflicts. 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. Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. In total, the veteran will need to submit the following to VA: To support their claim for service connection, the veteran may submit lay evidence. 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. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. You may also be able to increase a disability rating for knee pain by combining the VAs bilateral factor. You may also be able to receive benefits if you are unable to work because of your arthritis. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. MDViYTgxOWEwODZlZjQwMmQ1ZGIxNzQyODg1Njc0MzE0NDQ4YWM3ZmFiNWE4 RA affects 1.3 million Americans The specific cause is unknown It is more common than any other autoimmune disorder, including psoriasis, Crohns disease, multiple sclerosis, and lupus. It happens when a persons antibodies attack their synovial joint fluid, which is the natural lubrication of your joints. Fill out the short form below to contact us. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? According to the VA and CDC, arthritis affects one in five Americans and is the nations leading cause of disability. If you have been confirmed to have rheumatoid arthritis, they probably wont let you join up. OWQ4NTA5NjFkMGFiZGMzNjkxZGQwMWZkOTA5NzVlYWE3YTQ3Y2M5MDU5NDMx Here is a video explaining how the VA combined ratings table works from one of our Veterans Disability Lawyers. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. ZjcwYzA0NGMyOTc0MjAyNGU3YmVlY2NkOGZlMGFhZWJlNjZjIn0= Coming from a lineage of WWII and Vietnam veterans, he has litigated some 1,000 appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of disabled veterans. MWRmZTM2OTgzNWQ0MzgzMDVjMmJhZDM4OTliNGY1OGU2ZTZlN2IyMTliZTJj Lingering effects of a previous injury, mostly prior fractures and dislocations, usually lead to degenerative arthritis. These treatments may include medications, physical therapy, and surgery. Generated by Wordfence at Sun, 5 Mar 2023 0:15:18 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. Rheumatoid arthritis may also cause joint deformity which is non-reversible. Importantly, lay evidence may also be submitted by fellow service members. Arthritis can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome, which can result in complete paralysis of the hand, warranting a disability rating of up to 70% for your dominant hand. In this case, the immune system does not function properly and attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and pain. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis Under the schedule of ratings in the VA regulations, arthritis may be rated under degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Read on to learn more about the VA ratings for joint pain and arthritis and how you may be able to get a higher disability rating to receive the maximum compensation youre entitled from the VA. VA disability ratingsfor rheumatoid arthritis start at 20% for one or two painful flareups per year. That is the essence of a secondary service connection claim. Theme by, and is the nations leading cause of disability. Lawmakers Cry Foul Over VA Accessibility Issues. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If the synovial joint also has cartilage that tears, there can be blood in the synovial fluid. Aug 08, 2014 #4. It can be rated up to 40% if entire limbs are affected. This swelling will result in pain in and around the affected joints. There are outliers that break the curve in all of these situations. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. The VA is required to give you the best of everyting, but over 30% of VA decisions end up being wrong. Arthritis and joint pain can worsen with time, warranting an increase to an existing VA disability rating. If a VA doctor misdiagnoses you for one of those disabilities, talk to one of our lawyers right away to get the back-pay you deserve for the wrong VA rating. Make sure you are checked out by a doctor that knows to test for all of those diseases. MTVkYmJjZWYzYjQ3MWYxNjI5NGYwYTQ0YTRjY2I4YmVhY2E4MzBmYmIyODZj 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. Have your doctor specifically use this language when he/she explains your limitations due to knee arthritis. and subject to presumptive service connection if symptoms appear within one year of discharge from military service and are at least 10% disabling. va disability rating for arthritis in fingers. If you have experienced at least 2 episodes of incapacitation in a year, you will receive at least 20 . YWYwZmRjOTFmMjAwZTBiYWZmODU4YzJkYjNiNjcxOGRkNTA2MTM4MTk3NWU5 However, the PACT Act does create a framework for adding and removing presumptive conditions and strengthening federal research on toxic exposure. Arthritis is the most common disability and affects 52.5 million adults in the United States, or one in every five. Its possible to increase a rating for rheumatoid arthritis to 100% when there is sufficient medical evidence that your condition has become completely incapacitating. Rheumatoid arthritis in the wrists and hands can sometimes be mistaken for soreness due to over-usage but will persist much longer and degrade the joint over time. If you cant straighten it, you might get up to a 50% disability rating. the immune system does not work properly and attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and pain. A Veteran cannot get a higher disability rating for arthritis in the back if their only symptom is pain. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. While we still have our home base in Florida, The VA uses aCombined Rating Tableto determine your compensation when factoring in more than one condition. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Three episodes of rheumatoid arthritis flareups each year can increase your disability rating to 40%. Even once a veteran passes away, a surviving spouse can file a DIC claim if their husband or wife died from complications related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It can occur in or near the wrist, thumb, or fingers. That doesnt seem like a big deal, but if you notice the soreness and stiffness lasting hours or days longer than usual, pay attention to that pain. Usually, the same joint on both sides of the body will be affected. This is defined as a demonstration of service connection through continuity of symptomatology, as stated in 38 CFR 3.09(a) of the Code of Military Regulations. Osteoarthritis will show up in your knee or elbow if you wear them out, but RA is different. Pain medication, hot and cold therapy, and braces can help with pain in hand movement. Lack of movement in your fingers and numbness can be a symptom of diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other ailments. Heavy backpacks, rough parachute landings, repetitive use of your joints holding your gun, a steering wheel, or other equipment can all contribute to typical wear on your body. This will contain any documentation that has previously been submitted to VA, as well as the veterans medical and service records. Over 100 conditions fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including arthritis in the hands, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint diseases. If symptoms are not treated, specifically inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis may cause damage to the bones and cartilage. Since that time, we have provided compassionate Only a. can efficiently guide a claim through the complex system and obtain maximum benefits. There are many types of arthritis, but the three most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Some people may experience the following symptoms: If the inflammation caused by RA goes unchecked, it can cause damage to cartilage and to the bones. When a veterans service-connected medical diagnosis improves, the VA PO Box 96503Dept. VA Ratings for Arthritis Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA*: 10%- If two or more joint groups (major or minor) have arthritis but are never incapacitating 20%- If two or more joint groups (major or minor) have arthritis and are occasionally incapacitating Lost hand function can be devastating for anyone. Lower ratings may be given for occasional incapacitating episodes. Sometimes sharing experiences can alleviate some of the psychological stress veterans can face from living with chronic pain. Occasional incapacitating arthritis wont be enough to get you a high rating, but it will help you get your initial diagnosis. Commonly, rheumatoid arthritis affects the hands, knees, and ankles. Y2ZlOGY2Yzk3MjMwYzFjZDU2MzM1NDczNTY2ZGU4N2M4MGE3NThhOTllYzNh To do this, VA may call the veteran or send a letter. The disease typically affects the elderly and can cause severe pain and limited mobility. Your right and left elbows or ankles might start to ache and be swollen. Ratings on both hands will trigger the bilateral factor bonus of about 10% additional compensation. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. #34938Washington, D.C. 20090-6503, Phone: (888) 878-9350 If you had any of these conditions and took Xeljanz, contact us to see if your side-effects qualify for this case. You may also have developed a secondary condition that should have been factored into the rating. This fluid acts like oil between the hinges of your joints. While each condition that causes knee joint pain is assigned a rating based on its severity, your disability rating may be increased based on VA secondary conditions to knee pain. Infections that can cause arthritis include Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, and Reiter's syndrome, a complication of certain sexually transmitted infections. NzJiNjAxMjRkMTg5MzJhOTc2NGRmMDVhNGM0YjdhYjBlM2E5N2I5NDljNzAz Arthritis is considered a chronic disease and subject to presumptive service connection if symptoms appear within one year of discharge from military service and are at least 10% disabling. Xeljanz is a medicine prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and colitis. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 These cookies do not store any personal information. Instead of lubricating your joints, the blood can displace the synovial fluid for a little bit and let joints rub together the wrong way. The VA has 3 ways to categorize this aspect when rating arthritis of the knee: slight (10%), moderate (20%), or severe (30%) under Diagnostic Code 5257. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. If you are within your first year of being out of the service, though, do it! Even if the veteran is not fully bedridden or incapacitated, other lower ratings can be given for individuals suffering from the limitation of motion, osteoarthritis, inflammatory pain, musculoskeletal pains, and more. You received a 70% disability rating from the VA. Before the exam, the examiner will review the veterans c-file. Rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly seen affecting the joints of the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles.