If you are able to connect your arthritis with your military service, you may be able to receive disability benefits for arthritis. OWM4OTdjNWM2NDIwOTU3YzgzNWRhOGY3MTljN2E0NDFiOTdiMzY5MjE1ZjZm A disability on your dominant hand will result in a higher rating than on your non-dominant hand. This benefit compensates veterans at the 100 percent rating level, even if their disability rating may be less than that. A 100 percent VA disability rating can be given if the medical condition results in the veteran becoming bedridden or completely incapacitated. A service-connected disability is a medical condition that was caused or made worse by your military service. This can result in joints becoming loose, unstable, and painful. 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. She joined the Hill and Ponton family in September of 2014 as an Intake Specialist. To apply for these benefits, Veterans must submit a claim to the VA. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. M2ZmMDc3NTE2ZmE3ZWMxODU4YWFkNGY3NWM0MWFkNTQyNzhmZTFlMjhkM2Mx These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. To treat rheumatoid arthritis, a person may be prescribed certain medications to reduce symptoms and keep inflammation at the lowest possible level. 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. Rheumatoid Arthritis Doesnt Have to Be a Death Sentence, VA Disability Rating for Arthritis in Your Hands or Trigger Finger, The VA Ratings Schedule for Rheumatoid Arthritis, How to Increase your Rating from 60% to 100%, There are many people living happy lives into their 90s with rheumatoid arthritis. A VA disability rating for knee tendonitis or joint pain may also be based on your range of motion during your VA disability knee exam. The rating schedule then steps down to 60%, 40%, and then 20%, which involves one or two exacerbations annually with a well-established . This means that these symptoms can be rated under their own specific diagnostic code for each major or minor group of joints. Only one rating per joint. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other body systems such as therespiratoryand cardiovascular systems. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. What if your disability improves over time with treatment or therapy? OA is commonly known as degenerative arthritis because it causes a steady decline in the cartilage between the bones. Over 100 conditions fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including arthritis in the hands, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint diseases. If you took Xeljanz for a year and suffered side effects, Hands are one of the common areas in which people develop OA. OWQ4NTA5NjFkMGFiZGMzNjkxZGQwMWZkOTA5NzVlYWE3YTQ3Y2M5MDU5NDMx Arthritis and joint pain can worsen with time, warranting an increase to an existing VA disability rating. It can occur in multiple areas of the body, such as the hands, knees, or back, and can worsen as a Veteran ages. Some chemicals and traumatic events also have been known to trigger the body to begin attacking the synovial fluid. At some point, you might mow the grass or carry in some groceries and be sore. Importantly, arthritis can be a source of secondary conditions as well. His victories for veterans are often featured in mainstream news, including the Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, Sacramento Bee, and others, as well as in many military publications. va disability rating for arthritis in fingers. MTJiY2E0OWY5YWRhNzBjZWU4MGYxOTJkZTRhMDNmZTAyZjFhN2FhZDVjNWQ2 How Can I Increase My VA Disability Rating for Joint Pain and Arthritis? than the general population: one in 3 veterans has arthritis. If a veterans rheumatoid arthritis is less severe than the symptoms depicted above, they can be rated under the diagnostic codes for each specific major or group of minor joints. 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. It can also affect other organs in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is covered under Diagnostic Code 5002. If your parents had it, your risk of having it increases 4 times over. If youre already receiving VA disability benefits for joint pain or arthritis and your current rating no longer reflects the severity of your condition, you may be able to file for anincreaseto your disability benefits. MTVkYmJjZWYzYjQ3MWYxNjI5NGYwYTQ0YTRjY2I4YmVhY2E4MzBmYmIyODZj 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 Spinal stenosis (diagnostic code 5238): Spinal stenosis is when the spaces in the spine are narrowed and . Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Facebook San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Each joint may receive a separate disability rating under different diagnostic codes that can make your rating closer to reaching 100% when combined. 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. 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. Some veterans have service-related disabilities that could cause arthritis, even rheumatoid arthritis. Copyright 2022. The veteran may also use a DBQ, or Disability Benefits Questionnaire, to bolster their claim. Even if the veteran . When the VA rates hand disabilities, they do take into account if you are right-handed or left-handed. Pain medication, hot and cold therapy, and braces can help with pain in hand movement. According to the VA and CDC, arthritis affects one in five Americans and is the nations leading cause of disability. VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis VA rates rheumatoid arthritis under Diagnostic Code 5002. Before the exam, the examiner will review the veterans c-file. These cookies do not store any personal information. When dealing with averages, its important to not get discouraged. You would have to show that it should have always been rated higher, not that your condition is getting worse. Commonly, rheumatoid arthritis affects the hands, knees, and ankles. MDA1ZjY0NWQ1Yjg1Yjg2Y2JmMjQ0NGZiMWEyZDNhYzg1YzlkNzljM2FmMmQx Protected VA Disability Ratings: When Can VA Reduce My Rating? Other causes of arthritis that may be linked to military service include exposure to chemicals and pollutants, such as asbestos, silica, and benzene. Can the VA reduce your disability rating? Most of your joints are filled with a fluid called synovial fluid. This is like pouring antifreeze into your valve cover on accident! In this case, a different disability that is now service-connected would have to be the cause of your arthritis. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Sometimes sharing experiences can alleviate some of the psychological stress veterans can face from living with chronic pain. Your knuckles on both hands might begin by aching and swelling. Ten percent of people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis experience full spontaneous remission within 6 months of the onset of their symptoms. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. Amanda earned her Associates degree in Criminal Justice and hopes to use that knowledge, combined with her work experience, to make a difference. Additionally, he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. We also assist the surviving spouses of deceased service members to obtain the benefits to which theyre entitled. Theme by, and is the nations leading cause of disability. Hand osteoarthritis (OA) happens when the cartilage in the finger bones wears down where two bones meet. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 1. 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. YzJkYjI0MDE1ZDUxYmI2NzRlOTA5NTNkNjcyMGYwYjRiMjMyNmZkZGY3MjYz Arthritis is the most common disability and affects 52.5 million adults in the United States, or one in every five. Genetics may play a role in a persons likelihood to develop rheumatoid arthritis. A Veteran cannot get a higher disability rating for arthritis in the back if their only symptom is pain. The condition is often accompanied by severe pain, swelling, and redness in the affected joint. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. 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. A normal, healthy immune system operates by protecting the body and itself by attacking foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. In the most severe cases of gout, a Veteran might get a maximum VA disability rating of 100 percent. As you may have noted, degenerative arthritis is rated lower than rheumatoid arthritis. There are many people living happy lives into their 90s with rheumatoid arthritis. OGZjNDc4OTVkNjc4OWNjNTMwM2ZkMGJjNWI2NDllZGJhODUxMzRiZjNmZjg2 The bill added 23 burn pitandtoxic exposure-related conditions to VAs presumptive list for covered veterans: At this time, rheumatoid arthritis is not included on the list of presumptive conditions for burn pit and other toxic exposure. An attorney is a valuable partner in all phases of a disability claim. It tends to begin symmetrically. That goes to show how hard it is to pinpoint a cause. The percentage of Americans with arthritis is expected to increase to one in four or around 25% by 2040. Some imaging tests may include an x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI. 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.