Va Disability Rating For Arthritis In Fingers

The VA awards disability compensation for each Hand condition that is service-connected.

Va disability rating for arthritis in fingers. Lower ratings will be assigned for occasional incapacitating episodes. VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis Degenerative Arthritis Diagnostic Code 5003 Degenerative arthritis is rated based on the limitation of range of motion of the affected joints. VA Disability Rating for Arthritis in Your Hands or Trigger Finger Remember that rheumatoid arthritis starts in smaller joints first. Rheumatoid Arthritis is rated under Diagnostic Code 5002.

Major joints include the shoulder wrist elbow hip knee and ankle while minor joints include toes fingers spine and sacroiliac. 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. It is also known as Degenerative Arthritis Hypertrophic Arthritis and Degenerative Joint Disease. Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting those who have served in the military.

According to the Centers for Disease Control CDC more than 50 million. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30. Lack of movement in your fingers and numbness can be a symptom of diabetes arthritis fibromyalgia or other ailments. OA is commonly known as degenerative arthritis because it causes a steady decline in the cartilage between the bones.

Hands are one of the common areas in which people develop OA. The General Counsel Opinions related to this topic VAOPGCPREC 23-97 VAOPGCREC 9-98 VAOPGCPREC 9-2004 allow for multiple ratings for arthritis to be assigned to each affected joint this is not considered pyramiding with numerous BVA decisions supporting these ratings Citation Number 1017323 that assign separate diagnostic codes for each condition to accurately describe the disability. For the purpose of this guideline the terms are considered synonymous and will hereinafter be referred to as OA. The terms osteoarthrosis and osteoarthritis are used interchangeably in the medical community and the general public.

Its also a leading cause of disability. Im right hand dominate so the most they will ever give me 30. Va Disability For Arthritis In Hands Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease characterized by the irritation of the joints. In fact the Center for Disease Control CDC estimates the rate of arthritis in veterans to be 256 although other estimates have the rate as high as 35.

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. Im rated at 10 for my left wrist due to an injury that has developed into arthritis. Osteoarthritis OA is the most common form of arthritis and is defined by Mayo Clinic as a degenerative condition in which the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. However if limitation of motion for the involved joints renders a non-compensable rating a 10 percent rating will be assigned for each major or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion.

The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways. Veterans suffering from osteoarthritis may be eligible for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs VA. 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. Individuals experience great pains and stiffness and in addition they can even become incapable of getting around and of performing the simplest movements.

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. One or two painful flare-ups a year. Social Security disability insurance SSDI currently benefits millions of Americans and their families. Hand osteoarthritis OA happens when the cartilage in the finger bones wears down where two bones meet.

That is assuming youve already been diagnosed as having RA. If it was right hand the most they would give is 40. Since flare-ups come and go the minimum rating is 20 if you have 2 bad times a year. This is a higher rate than among the civilian population and it is one of the leading causes of physical disability.

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not assign a single disability rating for arthritis. Arthritis causes more than just pain. 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. Your knuckles on both hands might begin by aching and swelling.

The VA Ratings Schedule for Rheumatoid Arthritis. To see if your arthritis could qualify for SSDI we must first understand how disabilities are. They base it on your dominance. Much depends on the nature and severity of the condition.

They rated this at zero due to my not asking for it. That means that a rheumatoid arthritis disability rating wont be permanent. The rating schedule is as follows. The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty.

Additionally he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. However many people who could benefit from the program are either unsure that they qualify or are intimidated by the process. Its important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. 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.

How severe does my arthritis have to be to get disability benefits.