Va Rating For Arthritis In The Knee

Have your doctor specifically use this language when heshe explains your limitations due to knee arthritis.

Va rating for arthritis in the knee. If you can show evidence of any kind of strenuous work put on your knee you can get closer to service-connected arthritis. Under the schedule of ratings in the VA regulations arthritis may be rated under degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. 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.

So the less the knee can bend the higher the rating will be. Ankylosis of the Knee Diagnostic Code 5256. Ive looked at it practically every day of my adult life. Important Information On Combined Ratings For The Degenerative Arthritis Condition.

The VA disability rating for knee arthritis can go up to 100 for rheumatoid arthritis if the condition causes you to be completely incapacitated. There is a section for arthritis and knee conditions. The VA uses the rules of the VASRD to rate knee and lower leg conditions based on pain limited motion damage to the bones diseases like arthritis etc. 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.

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. Several rating criteria affect the total rating decision. Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings will be rated on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved DC 5200 etc. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation.

Check out our Knee and Lower Leg Conditions Ratings page for the exact codes and ratings. Many veterans are so disabled by their knee arthritis that they are unable to work. VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion. These will be combined not added to determine the rating for arthritis.

Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30 under Diagnostic Code 5257. Regrettably the rating for knee disability are outdated and have not been updated for many years. Knee instability or crepitation creeking and clicking sounds coming from your joints can help you get a higher rating too. A knee instability VA rating can be related to arthritis but doesnt have to be.

VA Ratings for Arthritis Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA. According to the rating criteria if the knee can straighten but cant bend all the way it is rated under 5260. However both are still rated under the musculoskeletal system conditions. As a result regional offices around the country provide rating of only 10 to 20.

The VA policy in this area includes a prohibition on combining ratings. VA joint pain ratings are funny because you have to treat every disabled joint like a different disability rating. The VA official site states that 20 and 10 ratings mentioned above cannot be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion. You can be rated up to 30 for certain knee conditions without having to meet the ROM criteria.

5003 Arthritis degenerative hypertrophic or osteoarthritis. Degenerative arthritis also known as osteoarthritis is given a disability rating of 10-20.