Va Disability Rating For Arthritis In Back

The VA awards disability compensation for each Back and Spine condition that is service-connected.

Va disability rating for arthritis in back. If you dont know what the VAs code sheet is you definitely need to talk to a VSO representative or a VA Disability Benefits attorney. According to the VA flexibility must be fairly limited to even get a 20 percent disability rating. Sep 22 2010 1 Hello all 1st time poster but i have read many of the other posts and i hope someone here can help me. Its possible for rheumatoid arthritis to be rated under diagnostic code 5003 like degenerative and traumatic arthritis.

Additionally he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. So if your back is straight but you cannot bend your thoracolumbar spine at all then that is considered favorable ankylosis and would qualify you for a 40 percent VA disability rating. The VASRD rates two main types of arthritis. Back Pain and Getting VA Disability for Arthritis is a Double Pain in the Neck.

These will be combined not added to determine the rating for arthritis. 20- if you experience less than 3 incapacitating episodes per year. If the condition is not severe enough to meet the above criteria then the VA rating for back pain arthritis will be based on specific symptoms. Meaning that if you are significantly limited in your ability to bend at the waist you might qualify for the 20 percent rating.

Ankylosing Spondylitis AS was assigned a specific Diagnostic Code DC of 5240 with the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities change for conditions of the spine in September 2003. It is possible to receive a 100 compensation rating from the VA for arthritis in the back if you are completely incapacitated and stuck in bed. VA Ratings for Arthritis. The VA gives 100 ratings for the most severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis and when the entire spine is frozen in an unfavorable position.

For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. Va Disability For Arthritis In Back Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease characterized by the swelling of the joints. Some back conditions may qualify for a 100 disability rating. CP Service has received multiple inquiries from veterans advocates indicating that AS is being improperly evaluated in light of this change.

The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. Berry Law Firm Established in 1965 by Vietnam War veteran and attorney John Stevens Berry Sr Berry Law Firm is a team of veterans dedicated to defending safeguarding and fighting to protect the rights of veterans. This will be determined on whether there is forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees. Rheumatoid arthritis as an active condition may receive a 100 VA disability rating if you experience constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement and is totally incapacitating.

The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways. They rated this at zero due to my not asking for it. I currently receive a 70 disability rating from the VA but on the rating report they noted I had degenerative arthritis in both hands verified by xrays. When your back hurts from arthritis pain the last thing you want to do is work through the VA Disability rating system to get a higher rating or any service-connection in the first place.

All other types of arthritis or similar conditions are rated analogously as degenerative or rheumatoid whichever is the most similar. If your condition is Rheumatoid Arthritis or. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not assign a single disability rating for arthritis. What you read here is current at the time of this writing according to the VA but disability percentage rating procedures criteria and amounts are always subject to change through legislation VA policy etc.

Its important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. The hard part about back pain is that it can be caused in so many ways. Individuals experience great pains and stiffness plus they can even become incapable of getting around and of performing the simplest movements. Still many veterans only receive an 80 disability rating or lower for their back condition when it should be 100.

To receive a 20 percent rating for arthritis of the back X-ray evidence must show that two or more major joints or two or more groups of minor joints have degenerative arthritis of the back and produce occasional incapacitating episodes. When it comes to arthritis of the knee it is crucial that you have someone experienced in handling VA Disability Benefits claims take a look at the VA Rating Decision especially the code sheet. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation.

If you are bent forward and cannot move your thoracolumbar spine at all then you should qualify for a 50 percent rating for unfavorable ankylosis. Much depends on the nature and severity of the condition. VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion. Degenerative Arthritiscode 5003 and Rheumatoid Arthritiscode 5002.