Va Disability Rating For Hand Arthritis

The rating schedule is as follows.

Va disability rating for hand arthritis. Major joints include the shoulder wrist elbow hip knee and ankle while minor joints include toes fingers spine and sacroiliac. To facilitate the disability rating process the VA has divided the human body into 23 muscle groups over five regions of the body. The VA Ratings Schedule for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Hand osteoarthritis OA happens when the cartilage in the finger bones wears down where two bones meet.

How Arthritis Is Diagnosed. A 50 percent disability rating is assigned for unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. 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. VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion.

Its important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. Or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. These will be combined not added to determine the rating for arthritis. Much depends on the nature and severity of the condition.

Im right hand dominate so the most they will ever give me 30. Lower ratings will be assigned for occasional incapacitating episodes. 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. A 40 percent disability rating is assigned for forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation. Va Disability For Arthritis In Hands Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease characterized by the irritation of the joints. Six muscle groups for the shoulder girdle and arm. The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways.

Im rated at 10 for my left wrist due to an injury that has developed into arthritis. Veterans suffering from osteoarthritis may be eligible for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs VA. Total incapacitating rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. That is assuming youve already been diagnosed as having RA.

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. Additionally he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category. That means that a rheumatoid arthritis disability rating wont be permanent. Three muscle groups for the foot and leg.

The 100 rating for all over pain in movement from rheumatoid arthritis might make more sense to your doctor too. They rated this at zero due to my not asking for it. VA Policy On Rating The Musculoskeletal System. This is a higher rate than among the civilian population and it is one of the leading causes of physical disability.

For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. If it was right hand the most they would give is 40. One or two painful flare-ups a year. Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting those who have served in the military.

My question is would it be worthwhile to submit that claim as well. RA can be evaluated at up to a 100 percent disability rating if it results in the veteran becoming bedridden or complete incapacitation. 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. Arthritis can be diagnosed by your primary care provider but the typical specialist you would treat with for arthritis is a rheumatologist.

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not assign a single disability rating for arthritis. The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. Since flare-ups come and go the minimum rating is 20 if you have 2 bad times a year. A Vet Might Get VA Disability Benefits for Knee Pain from a Variety of Different Conditions.

The VA awards disability compensation for each Hand condition that is service-connected. 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. 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. They base it on your dominance.

Hands are one of the common areas in which people develop OA. Individuals experience great pains and stiffness and in addition they can even become incapable of getting around and of performing the simplest movements. OA is commonly known as degenerative arthritis because it causes a steady decline in the cartilage between the bones. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30.