Va Disability Rating For Arthritis In Hands

You cant hold down a steady job that supports you financially known as substantially gainful employment because of.

Va disability rating for arthritis in hands. Hand osteoarthritis OA happens when the cartilage in the finger bones wears down where two bones meet. Arthritis causes more than just pain. 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. If you have psoriatic arthritis for example you can receive a second rating under code 5002 for rheumatoid arthritis.

VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion. 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. One or two painful flare-ups a year. If a veteran only has one joint group affected by arthritis then there must also be painful motion present in order for a rating higher than 0 to be assigned.

Arthritis can make daily life harder. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30. For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. These will be combined not added to determine the rating for arthritis.

They rated this at zero due to my not asking for it. The VA awards disability compensation for each Hand condition that is service-connected. Thats because psoriatic arthritis is ranked as rheumatoid arthritis. Its also a leading cause of disability.

RA can be evaluated at up to a 100 percent disability rating if it results in the veteran becoming bedridden or complete incapacitation. Since flare-ups come and go the minimum rating is 20 if you have 2 bad times a year. According to the Centers for Disease Control CDC more than 50 million. 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.

Additionally he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60 or more disabling or 2 or more service-connected. Rheumatoid arthritis can receive the following disability ratings from the VA. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation.

My question is would it be worthwhile to submit that claim as well. 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. That means that a rheumatoid arthritis disability rating wont be permanent. Im right hand dominate so the most they will ever give me 30.

That is assuming youve already been diagnosed as having RA. Im rated at 10 for my left wrist due to an injury that has developed into arthritis. Or if incapacitating episodes occur 3 or more times per year 60- If there is an overall decline in health but is short of. The VA Ratings Schedule for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. Its important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not assign a single disability rating for arthritis. If there is painful motion a 10 rating will be assigned.

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. 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. The rating schedule is as follows. They base it on your dominance.

20- One or two incapacitating episodes per year 40- If there is a definite decline in health. VA Disability Rating for Arthritis in Hands 1. Lower ratings will be assigned for occasional incapacitating episodes. A musculoskeletal disease VA rating has a lot more promise if you have the right combination of symptoms.

The 100 rating for all over pain in movement from rheumatoid arthritis might make more sense to your doctor too. 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. Major joints include the shoulder wrist elbow hip knee and ankle while minor joints include toes fingers spine and sacroiliac. Much depends on the nature and severity of the condition.

The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways. VA Disability Rates for Scar Pain Scars and scar tissue from injuries or surgery can cause pain and unsightliness years after your service. Hands are one of the common areas in which people develop OA.