Va Disability Rating Osteoarthritis Of Knee

One of the often-overlooked disability claims that a Veteran can file is for osteoarthritis.

Va disability rating osteoarthritis of knee. Listing those as separate disabilities meant that the veteran went from 10 to 30 on one knee. In order to get the highest evaluation the knee must be so unstable that it gives out or dislocates on a regular basis. 10- If two or more joint groups major or minor have arthritis but are never incapacitating 20- If two or more joint groups major or minor have arthritis and are occasionally incapacitating. Veterans suffering from osteoarthritis may be eligible for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs VA.

Arthritis Joint by Joint as a VA Disability. Vets have been misdiagnosed between arthritis and a torn ACL. Generally claimants with osteoarthritis applying for disability benefits allege some degree of limiting symptoms like pain and stiffness. Arthritis degenerative hypertrophic or osteoarthritis.

Major joints include the shoulder wrist elbow hip knee and ankle while minor joints include toes fingers spine and sacroiliac. The Department of Veterans Affairs says of this condition that when established via X-rays the VA disability rating will be made on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved. Again there are specific range of motion measurements that correspond with each percentage and can be found here. For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify.

Ankylosis of the Knee Diagnostic Code 5256. The VA disability rating for knee arthritis can go up to 100 for rheumatoid arthritis if the condition causes you to be completely incapacitated. The VA rates instability of the knee under diagnostic code 5257. Degenerative arthritis also known as osteoarthritis is given a disability rating of 10-20.

If the VA Rater has been provided a claim with MRIX-Ray evidence of Degenerative Arthritis Osteoarthritis of the knees for example is a CP Exam for range of motion still required or can the rater assign a rating of 10 or 20 percent without a CP Exam. VA Ratings for Arthritis Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA. 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. To qualify for the 10 percent rating 2 or more episodes following the initial infection are required.

This 20 percent rating or the 10 percent rating when applicable will be assigned once only to cover disability at all sites of previously active infection with a future ending date in the case of the 20 percent rating. Diagnostic Code 5259 If the cartilage is removed and there is pain or other symptoms in the knee the condition is rated as 10 percent disabling. Instability of the Knee. Have your doctor specifically use this language when heshe explains your limitations due to knee arthritis.

If the cartilage frequently dislocates causing pain swelling and locking in the knee it receives a 20 percent rating. The more the knee disability prevents the leg from straightening the higher the rating will be. The DoD will also rate service-connected conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit fo r Duty. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30 under Diagnostic Code 5257.

This diagnostic code is used with the knee has too much motion from side to side or dislocates regularly. With a stress-caused arthritis like osteoarthritis you want to get a VA rating for joint pain on each individual joint. VA assigns a 0 10 20 or 30 percent disability rating for this knee pain condition based on the amount of instability present in the knee.