If you are filing an appeal, it can take up to 12-18 months for the VA to review and grant your appeal. Yes, if you can prove a service-connection and show that it is still causing you problems. There are two main types of arthritis: degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In order to strengthen your case that your spine is the cause of the headaches, you'll need to get a NEXUS letter from your physician linking the conditions. Visit USA.gov, This will take you to the MyHealtheVet website, This will take you to the Suicide Prevention website, This will take you to the VA Find a Form page, This will take you to the VA Publications page, VA updates rating criteria for musculoskeletal and muscle injuries, The Great American Spit Out February 25, Veterans! To complicate things, some Veterans may not report an injury at the time that it occurred. All of these falling under VASRD code 5200. So now I have a letter from the DOD saying they have evidence about 25 items LHI was supposed to check. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I was in the Army for many years. No facet arthropathy. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing. The ratings are 10% lower if they are on your non-dominant side from the 70% rating level downward. I went to have the swelling checked and a large Baker's cyst was found behind my left knee as well as arthritis. My iimited duty post was to security call in hourly at a 5 story barracks full of guys all awaiting boards. Because most of the people are complaining about their system. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. Additionally, I have had four "flare ups" in less than a year, two of which I received prednisone for and two of which I did not. There are about 2 accurate statements in the report loss of smell & that I declined to have the bump surgcally removed. Under the VA rating schedule, there is a standard 20% disability rating if there is x-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints, or minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations. VA Disability Rating for Shoulder Labral Tear is similar: Severe: 40% for dominant and 30% VA requires that limitation of To receive veterans benefits for your Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, you mustprove a service connection for the condition. What to Expect When Filing Your Initial VA Claim, Top 10 Questions About Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The first thing you need to do is request your VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In such cases, the VA is able to consider certain, This post will outline the basics of GERD and how service-connection VA disability benefits may be possible under the VA schedule of ratings, despite the lack of an exactdisability ratingschedulefor. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. Kirsten has since transitioned to focus on her legal education and has been attending law school full time. I am very happy and very satisfied with the work they have done for me! Webor traumatic arthritis, do not complete this questionnaire, INSTEAD complete the Joint Questionnaire for the affected area (e.g., if the diagnosis is osteoarthritis of the knee, complete the VA Form 21-0960M-9, Knee and Lower Leg Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire). VA Disability for Shoulder and Arm Injuries - Woods and Woods, All the military and VA did was give me medication. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. How Can You Increase Your Shoulder Injury VA Disability Rating? VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. And I have the new neck problems. To get the bilateral factor we take 28% and multiply it by 10%. Side Note: Because limited motion is so vital to rating arthritis, it is essential that your physicians record the exact range of motion measurements for your affected joints. If the entire arm is amputated, it will change to a 90% rating whether it is your dominant arm or not. Today, VA announced its sixth update: The musculoskeletal system and muscle injuries. From what I understand a CUE claim, is when a veteran asks the VA to revise a decision that is final. In late 2017, VA began a multi-year effort to revise and update the VASRD, or VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Moderate-to-severe right and moderate left neuroforaminal narrowing. However, it is still very important to provide evidence that the arthritis is secondary along with the claim. Veterans with questions regarding this VASRD update may contact VA at 800-827-1000. Moreover, if there is pain (without limited motion), then the VAs painful motion principle kicks in. And how long are they supposed to last? Hello Dr. Johnson. It is medically indicated that the ankle would cause this condition, so it makes sense that the VA denied it. I just had a second surgury & I doubt my current records inquiry will improve. The VA doesnt usually give 100% TDIU for just a single disability. Unless you also have instability, the only way to increase your rating is for your range of motion to significantly decrease. Note (2): The 20 percent rating on the basis of activity within the past 5 Another example is if you were diagnosed with high blood pressure while on active duty and later developed complications from it, you may be entitled to further review and/or compensation. It affects daily life and job. First rule that you MUST understand: All joints will only receive ONE rating for the overall condition of that joint, regardless of the number of conditions that affect it. I have been self medicating for 15 years with Ibprophen (about 1600mg a day) and the Corpsmen documented the white and red patches for years. http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/diseasesofthemusculoskeletalsystem.html#rheum. Degenerative arthritis of the spine is listed as one of the most prevalent service-connected medicalconditions in the 2018 VA benefits report, with 505,553 disability benefits recipients for the condition. From rotator cuffs and dislocations to poorly healed bones, shoulder and arm injuries are common among soldiers and all these injuries can lead to long-term disabilities in veterans. With my experience, I would recommend their service to others, in respect to anyone who is struggling I would highly recommend Woods and Woods. If you need help with a service-connected claim for arthritis, feel free to give us a call for a free case evaluation! WebFor the purpose of rating disability from arthritis, the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle are considered major joints; multiple involvements of the interphalangeal, metacarpal and carpal joints of the upper extremities, the interphalangeal, metatarsal and tarsal joints of the lower extremities, the cervical vertebrae, the dorsal Right wrist: Palmar Flexion (0-80): 0 to 55 degree Dorsiflexion (0-70): 0 to 45 degree Ulnar Deviation (0-45): 0 to 25 degree Radial Deviation (0-20): 0 to 15 degree, and left wrist: Palmar Flexion (0-80): 0 to 60 degree Dorsiflexion (0-70): 0 to 40 degree Ulnar Deviation (0-45): 0 to 45 degree Radial Deviation (0-20): 0 to 20 degree. A doctor can determine if your service had a causal relationship with your arthritis by looking at your injuries or overuse of the joints. However, both are still rated under the musculoskeletal system conditions. This means that the typical medical evidence of a diagnosis or nexus is not necessarily needed if you are able to show continuation of reported symptoms from service. Basically I was trying to convince the VA that the pain issues with my neck was caused by my left ankle when walking ect. It is primarily in my L4-L-5-S1 region. Arthritis especially tends to affect those who are overweight, as well as older men. It is thought that degenerating discs can place undue stress on the facet joints, thus over time leading to degeneration and formation of osteoarthritis in the facet joints". If there is limited motion in your joint, then your condition will be rated based on that joints limited motion. The most common cause of epidural lipomatosis is steroid use. In those days I did not want a disciplinary action aftet getting just 3 months from my EOS. Also, what is an "incapacitating episode"? As with all VAdisability claims, proving service connection is the first important step. Unfortunately, it is common for the VA to overlook information or make mistakes on arthritis claims. THE CONTRACTOR CHECKED 4 THINGS PROPERLY & the rest eas Covid delayed. I could see he wanted me off his work liad and out of the service because my appeal went past my EOS date. So, if your arthritis gives a higher rating than the meniscus condition, then it is rated, and the other is ignored. It depends on what the authority decides at the time they make the correction. I'm also wondering with symptoms such as these if it's more likely I'm rated under 5002 or 5003? I started to get the ball rolling with Mr. Woods/Mr. I have a question. The length of this period will depend on the specific of the condition, but it would have to be significant. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. I got handed to psych people instead of medical people. Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting those who have served in the military. 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 The complete list of updates to the rating schedule is also availableonline.VA remains committed to staying at the forefront of modern medicine to provide the best service to Veterans and their families. However, if your arthritis is bad enough that you are completely Under the VAs schedule of ratings, they can rate arthritis as degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis several criteria affect that decision. Fill out the short form below to contact us. Welcome to the PEB Forum! If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. The first VASRD update, in September 2017, was for dental and oral conditions. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. I earned my honorable and other good notes that only served to make people doubt that sensory challenged people can still attempt to complete any mission when others are helping alleviate the heavy lifting. I've taken methotrexate for a few years. Yes, the examiner basically stated that in their opinion the synovial hypertrophy is SC while the arthritis is not. Although range of motion is a big factor, the functional impairment ought to be addressed as well. 2. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Also based on the MRI results listed above are there any conditions I could file for separately for example "Mild spinal canal stenosis, mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing"? http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/theankle.html#joint, Dear DR Johnson, I am currently a 50% disabled veteran. 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, Several rating criteria affect the totalrating decision, 100% disability compensation through total disability based on individual unemployability, rated under the appropriatediagnostic code, Denied VA Benefits? Yes, the arthritis can be granted secondary service-connection to the Chondromalacia Patella, but it is important to note that only a single rating can be given for the overall knee condition (unless instability is presentthat can be rated separately). Some of the causes include joint injuries or repeated stress on the joint(s) from sports or job duties. I touched land about 2 days in 5 months as I fought continual exhaustion and numbness that had started at a previous ship after a fall on the quarterdeck of the Uss Sperry AS-12. Ultimately, Joe will only have a total of three ratings for his four conditions, instead of four separate ratings. WebThe osteoarthritis disability ratings are either 10% or 20% depending on the following symptoms: 10%: a veteran has degenerative arthritis in two or more major joints or two or My question is what about the Department of Army Civilians who spent multiple Deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan? If only one major or minor jointgroup is affected, you may only receive a rating higher than 0% under diagnostic code 5003 if there is also evidence of painful motion. The joints Factors including frequency and severity of joint swelling, stiffness, tenderness should all be reported and discussed to achieve a full picture of the severity. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. ). In August 2018, VAs third update to the VASRD focused onskin conditions. For the purposes of this blog, the primary focus will be on VA disability for degenerative arthritis, which affects 27 million Americans. You can try, but there is a high likelihood that it would be denied. or should I have a totally different one as arthritis due to service connected injury? The author of my 2nd board did try by sending me to Nuclear med for imaging. Dont post your vaccination card photo on social media, VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), infectious diseases, immune disorders and nutritional deficiencies, VA releases dashboard to measure the PACT Acts impact on Veterans and survivors, 100 years of advancing health care for women Veterans, You can request a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility through VA.gov, Call TTY if you Or will i tell the examiner when i have my evaluation?Thanks doc. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. I also have a question about Administrative Decision For Cue. Active cases of rheumatoid arthritis can receive up to a 100% VA disability rating for shoulder arthritis if the condition is debilitating. I was afraid I might lose the benefits I had but I took the chance, and said, "I am going to go ahead and DO IT!" 100%- Completely incapacitated and bedridden, regardless of how many joints are affected. First rule that you MUST understand: All joints will only receive ONE rating for the overall condition of that joint, regardless of the number of conditions that affect it. Hi Dr, Just today I went in to apply for a shoulder increase. Therefore, the C&P examiner ought to test for active and passive, weightbearing and non-weightbearing, motion pain. VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis Conditions - Hill & Ponton This will best be explained by using an example. I want to file for an increase and wonder what rating codes this would be under. A VA disability rating percentage is awarded in multiples of 10, representing the severity of the impact of the disease or injury. The presence of pain would qualify for a minimum 10% per knee. Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA*: Rheumatoid arthritis can receive the following disability ratings from the VA: Arthritis is one of the main disabilities facing todays veterans and the VA has many resources and benefits available to you if you are suffering from arthritis. You would want to get a NEXUS letter from a specialist confirming this correlation. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 I did some research on a website called spine-health.com which stated "degenerative discs and osteoarthritis often occur hand in hand because the disc and facet joints are both part of the same three-joint complex. You are in a tough spot for your spondylosis. Can you explain a bit more and also can they rate this together? Dr. Johnson, I currently have a service connected disability rating for a lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis of the left ankle. The VA saves me with a surgery when they absolutely must because I got a POA to present an affidavitt. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? Chondromalacia patella is rated on either limited motion of the knee or a minimum 10% analogously under arthritis. So, if you have arthritis in your knee, and you cannot bend it all the way, then it is rated once on limited motion of the knee. Bilateral facet arthropathy. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Since this condition had gotten somewhat worse I have been experiencing headaches. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Because that was defunite they changed the diagnosis to rid themselves of my puzzling case. You cannot rate both. I have had sleep issues for years including while I was in. Please complete this form to send us your message. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition.". Under Diagnostic Code 5002, the VA rates your rheumatoid arthritis case based on the following:100%: The veterans rheumatoid arthritis results in incapacitation. 60%: The veteran has severe incapacitating episodes four or more times per year. 40%: The veteran has three or more incapacitating episodes per year or a medically diagnosed health condition and day-to-day impairment.More items They wsnt the med reords which have still not been found. See your personnel office for the proper forms. My question is, did my DDD cause my arthritis in my neck- is there any kind of connection there? So, you cannot receive a rating for degenerative disc disease and another for facet arthropathy. C4/C5: Symmetric posterior disc bulge. If you are already service-connected for arthritis and stay in a hospital for over 21 days as a result of your condition (i.e., joint replacement surgery), you may qualify for a temporary 100% total rating for the duration of your hospital admittance. Rheumatoid arthritis, as an active condition, may receive a 100% VAdisability rating if you experience constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement and is totally incapacitating. That arthritis is a secondary condition that should be reviewed by the VA and compensated where appropriate. The key is that the VA will initially look at each joint independently to decide whether there is limited motion and if there is joint pain with motion. Thank you for your time! Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 As with all VAdisability ratings, the examiner will review your medical evidence looking for past diagnoses and symptoms. Claims filed on or after the effective date will be rated under the new criteria. As long as they have evidence that the shoulder condition worsened and caused arthritis, then it should still be processed correctly. Hello Sir, I was recently diagnosed with degenerative talonavicular arthrosis of my right foot. The rating schedule then steps down to 60% disability rating which could still qualify a veteran to 100% disability compensation through total disability based on individual unemployability. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I'm wondering if the ultrasound and symptoms alone are enough for the VA to award secondary service connection? Several rating criteria affect the totalrating decision. But, rheumatoid arthritis will only be rated either as an active condition or for its chronic residuals. If two or more major or minor jointgroups are affected, but there are no incapacitating exacerbations, a 10% rating may be assigned. Can you please help me understand a bit more about what type of rating I should expect. Additionally, while there are other forms of arthritis under the VA codes, such as pneumococcic or traumatic, these specific forms are rated within one of the two main umbrellas: degenerative or rheumatoid. Were Veterans helping Veterans Worldwide, and since 2016 weve helped 10,000+ Veterans just like you INCREASE their VA disability rating! We also connect veterans with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible independent medical opinions and nexus statements (medical nexus letters) for a wide range of disability conditions. Is it possible to get the facet athropathy secondary to cervical spine DDD (two separate ratings)? When examining my wrist the examiner also notated abnormal results for ROM. Rotator cuff injuries are common among veterans who have experienced traumatic injuries while in service. As a federal employee, file the appropriate claim through your employing agency. Note that you are not required to submit evidence with your Acromioclavicular Joint Separation VA disability application, but you will find it helpful for your case. Many with identified surgeries which made me understand staying to fight a person intent on ridding U more than helping U even have a chance was beyond my capacities right then. One of these includes a temporary rating based on hospitalization. http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/kneeandleg.html#limo. http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/vasrdprinciples.html#pyram. When the muscles are overused or experience undue force, the tendons often tear from the stress. Under the VArating schedule, there is a standard 20% disability rating if there is x-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints, or minor jointgroups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations. No, the VA will only give you a single spine rating for your cervical spine. VA claims processors will use this update to make consistent decisions with greater ease.. have hearing loss, VA plans, budget, finances, and performance. Lock Now, if you dont have limited motion, then your condition is rated as. Degenerative arthritis may also be referred to as osteoarthritis and is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis can theoretically affect any joint but typically occurs in your hands, feet, spine and hips. My rheumatologist ordered an U/S that showed mild synovial hypertrophy in each wrist. The VA does not rate a disability under limited range of motion and degenerative arthritis. This combined rating takes effectif your other condition qualifies for a rating, such as VA disability rating for shoulder bursitis. He is a professional in the work he is doing. Well I got a letter today stating THEY made a calculation error when I submitted a claim for two painful scars. While the VA will avoid pyramiding and giving you multiple ratings for the same condition, you want to make sure you get a rating for conditions that aggravate each other. It's never a waste of time to make sure the VA is aware of your full range of conditions. The VASRDs 15 body systems had seen periodic rating criteria updates, but this continuing effort reflects the first comprehensive review since 1945. If you need additional information to reply, please let me know. There is precedent of connection there too, though it is impossible for me to opine on your case. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Is range of motion the only thing VA considers or do they actually look at what you can and cannot do for daily living purposes? Whats more, getting a disability rating thats enough to reflect the severity of arm and shoulder injuries is another hurdle. Psoriatic arthritis is rated analogous to RA: "Incapacitating episodes" for RA are periods where the condition is aggravated to the point that it is impossible for you to do your job or function well in daily life. They do not have any evidence concerning my knee or most of the stuff on their list. Regardless of the code, however, most spine conditions are all rated on the same system: limited motion. The VASRD's 15 body systems had seen periodic updates, but this continuing effort reflects the first comprehensive review in 70+ years. This gives the veteran a bilateral factor of 2.8%. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Since you have multiple disc conditions, you could qualify for a rating under Intervertebral Disc Syndrome instead if that offers higher rating under incapacitating episodes. VA will be publishing the PACT Act Performance Dashboard every other Friday to measure the implementation of PACT Act and showcase its impact on Veterans and survivors. Any claimed joint conditions will be rated as degenerative arthritis if there is not a significant measurement of limited range of motion to rate under those applicable diagnostic codes. For an explanation of arthritis ratings click HERE. VA makes a determination about the severity of your disability based on the evidence you submit as part of your claim, or that VA obtains from your military records. DOCTORS IMPRESSION: 1. Carefully read our discussions of, More Jobs for More Vets Fixing the Unemployment Problem, Fighting the Military Disability and VA Disability Systems, The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), Concurrent Retirement & Disability Pay (CRDP), conditions that are rated as Degenerative Arthritis, VA Processing All PACT Act Claims January 1st.