For a free consultation with an. Its possible to increase a rating for rheumatoid arthritis to 100% when there is sufficient medical evidence that your condition has become completely incapacitating. Lay evidence, or lay statements, can be written by the veteran or anyone who knows the veteran and can speak to their condition. You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or 2 or more service-connected disabilitieswith at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or moreand2. The accredited VA disability lawyers and advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD have decades of experience successfully representing veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Federal Circuit. For instance, which pages you go to most. NzJiNjAxMjRkMTg5MzJhOTc2NGRmMDVhNGM0YjdhYjBlM2E5N2I5NDljNzAz document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? To be rated under this code, there are three specifications: (1) The arthritis must be active; (2) It must be affecting at least two joints; and (3) The veteran must submit a definitive diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis is covered under Diagnostic Code 5002. If you cant straighten it, you might get up to a 50% disability rating. We can also find mistakes like if you were rated for rheumatoid arthritis and limitation of motion but not rated for the complete autoimmune disorder, we need to write some letters! Can I Get a 100% Disability Rating for Joint Pain? This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. 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. Osteoarthritis will show up in your knee or elbow if you wear them out, but RA is different. Getting the Highest VA Rating for Arthritis - Woods and Woods, LLC Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Specifically, a rheumatologist may perform a blood test to look for certain blood proteins, or antibodies, related to rheumatoid arthritis. Make sure you are clear to the VA if your affected joints keep you from being able to do your normal job. MWZjZTVlNjYyOTMzYjQwMjFmYmM3MjFhZjZlOGQ1ZWQ4OWJmYjVlYmQ1ZDVj If you took Xeljanz for a year and suffered side effects, The VA uses aCombined Rating Tableto determine your compensation when factoring in more than one condition. VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis VA rates rheumatoid arthritis under Diagnostic Code 5002. The disease typically affects the elderly and can cause severe pain and limited mobility. Not always. For a free consultation with an experienced Veterans disability lawyer, contact the Cameron Firm, PC at 800-861-7262 or fill out the contact box on our website. ODY1OGY5MDE2MzMzOWEyYWU5YjY5NzI0MDQ5MWE5NzliODUzMmJhYzg1MzI2 The VA will also consider whether arthritis is an overall condition in the body such as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis or if it occurs in specific joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly seen affecting the joints of the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. Your body might be telling you something. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Arthritis is the painful swelling of one or multiple joints. VA rates rheumatoid arthritis under Diagnostic Code 5002. For example, two veterans may have the same arthritic condition, but the veteran who has more flareups each year will receive a higher rating. The veteran will also need to submit a diagnosis of their condition. Most of the time, though, you can apply for an increase in a rating which results in more money per month. The veteran may also have their private doctor fill out a DBQ for them. Gout also falls under the diagnostic code 5002 (38 CFR 4.71a). Amanda DeJesus is a Claims Advocate for Hill and Ponton. One way your disability rating can be increased is by combining multiple disabilities. Did you take Xeljanz for at least one year? Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. (What most of us call VA Math.) RA can be evaluated at up to a 100 percent disability rating which is not common amongst service-connected health ailments. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? Joint deformity also may occur which is non-reversible. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. MTVkYmJjZWYzYjQ3MWYxNjI5NGYwYTQ0YTRjY2I4YmVhY2E4MzBmYmIyODZj 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. Please complete this form to send us your message. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. M2ZmMDc3NTE2ZmE3ZWMxODU4YWFkNGY3NWM0MWFkNTQyNzhmZTFlMjhkM2Mx These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), Disabilities Due to Agent Orange Exposure, Dependency Indemnity Compensation Appeals, Total Disability Individual Unemployability (IU) Appeals, Eligibility for PTSD-Related DIC Benefits. 1. Most of your joints are filled with a fluid called synovial fluid. 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. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 The 100% rating for all over pain in movement from rheumatoid arthritis might make more sense to your doctor too. Your service truly exceeded everything that I was expecting from this journey. In addition, the VA rates dominant hand fingers at a higher rate than the non-dominant hand. You may also be eligible for a 100% disability rating during the time period in which you are convalescing. Only one rating per joint. At the same time, something like quitting smoking can increase your average lifespan by 10 years. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. You are also more likely to get trigger finger while you are still in the service, rather than years later. The VA is also looking into complementary treatments like nutritional supplements, massage treatments, and activity pacing. Did you take Xeljanz for at least one year? How The VA Rates Arthritis - Military Benefits Since there are so many causes that are still misunderstood, drawing a service connection is more about making the case that your symptoms started because of your military service. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Email: [hidden email], National Organization of Veterans Advocates. A musculoskeletal disease VA rating has a lot more promise if you have the right combination of symptoms. If you have been confirmed to have rheumatoid arthritis, they probably wont let you join up. Additionally, he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. VA math can be a mess when you are adding a 10% rating for your left elbow and a 30% rating for your right hand. Over 100 conditions fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including arthritis in the hands, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint diseases. NGE5MTE2NmZmOWVkMTRiMzlkOGMxNGUwY2MzNDY0M2Q1MTIyNDAxYTJlMDUw A person that is diagnosed with RA today has a much better chance of living a normal life than their grandparents did. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to get what they deserve. The VA will evaluate both the right hand and left hand separately, adding the two ratings together for a final number. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. While your disability rating is meant to reflect how your condition affects your daily life, TDIU is intended to compensate you for the impact your service-related disability has on your employment. Hand osteoarthritis (OA) happens when the cartilage in the finger bones wears down where two bones meet. ZTc2N2RiNGNlYmYwYzE5MDkwZWU3OWJhZmE2YjdlMzljMTFkMGExNjk1MjA0 VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis in the Knee - Berry Law Odd jobs (marginal employment), dont count. Since swollen achy ankles can be caused by a number of things, you might not look for the RA diagnosis right away. An attorney is a valuable partner in all phases of a disability claim. You might have swollen finger joints or your elbows may be slightly deformed from swelling. As mentioned, overuse during military service or an injury that happened during military service could directly cause arthritis. I went from 10% to 100% with several conditions service related. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Essentially, the difference in conditions between a veteran who receives a 60% rating and a 100% rating depends on whether rheumatoid arthritis causes them to be bedridden and completely incapable of doing chores, household tasks, their daily activities, and working. A Veteran cannot get a higher disability rating for arthritis in the back if their only symptom is pain. Your knuckles on both hands might begin by aching and swelling. VA Disability for Arthritis | Veterans Disability Info The VA rates nerve damage on a scale from mild to complete. As mentioned above, environmental factors have been identified as a potential trigger for rheumatoid arthritis. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 OWQ4NTA5NjFkMGFiZGMzNjkxZGQwMWZkOTA5NzVlYWE3YTQ3Y2M5MDU5NDMx According to the VA and CDC, arthritis affects one in five Americans and is the nations leading cause of disability. NjFhZjg3YmEwYzliMTViODQ3MjNhMDgyNjgxNWZmNTcxODA0MWUzYWY0OGMz Many veterans begin to settle back into civilian life when their hand arthritis becomes too painful and debilitating to ignore. The thing that is most important when looking at a VA disability rating for arthritis in knees, however, is to make sure you are getting the best rating. A 100 percent VA disability rating can be given if the medical condition results in the veteran becoming bedridden or completely incapacitated. Military service takes a significant toll on a veterans body. YWEwMGExZWNhMTMyN2YyODE1NWVmNmRiNjJkMzI5YjI1MTkyNjc5MDdjMGE2 It is up to veterans and their doctors to devise a treatment plan for arthritis. Only a VA disability lawyer can efficiently guide a claim through the complex system and obtain maximum benefits. A Disability Benefits Questionnaire is a form created by VA so that the veteran may address important aspects of their condition, such as symptoms, severity, possible causes, and relation to other disabilities.