Va Rating For Degenerative Joint Disease

September 6 2018 ORDER Entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbosacral and thoracic spine strain degenerative disc disease degenerative joint disease is dismissed.

Va rating for degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can take many forms and its causes are not yet clear. This rating schedule considers factors like range of motion when awarding a specific percent rating. So individuals with a low range of motion and other severe symptoms will receive a higher VA disability rating for DDD. While the VA diagnostic code has a maximum rating of 50 it is possible to get a greater rating if you can prove how your spinal condition limits your function and your life.

A 60 rating will be assigned when there is weakness and severe pain with motion. Major joints include the shoulder wrist elbow hip knee and ankle while minor joints include toes fingers spine and sacroiliac. The first one is to have one or more disabilities that reach the 100 disability rating. Degenerative Joint Disease Va Rating Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease characterized by the irritation of the joints.

Degenerative Joint Disease Ratings. Back injuries are a common complaint after military service. If your degenerative disc disease is severe enough the ultimate goal is to receive a 100 disability rating. Unfortunately spinal injuries tend to receive low disability ratings despite the fact that they can be quite debilitating.

How the VA Decides Disability Ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease The VA classifies degenerative disc disease as a musculoskeletal disorder of the spine. 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. The rating systems used for arthritis of the spine is the second most common rating system for spine conditions. In addition for Veterans who have served 90 days or more of active service during a war period or after December 31 1946 certain chronic disabilities degenerative joint disease arthritis are presumed to have been incurred in service if they manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.

The VA generally rates DDD between 10 and 20 depending on the number of joints affected. The other way is to receive the rating through TDIU. These rating systems offer rating options for Musculoskeletal Diseases that are intended to reflect the amount of impact the condition has on the veterans ability to work andor function in daily life. Some of the conditions included in this category are degenerative arthritis traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are two methods to use. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation. This might be the case for a veterans degenerative disc disease as the highest schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5003 is only 20 percent. The VA official site states that 20 and 10 ratings mentioned above cannot be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion.

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. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to rate musculoskeletal conditions which includes back conditions like degenerative arthritis. To receive an extraschedular disability rating under 38 CFR 3321b1 for degenerative disc disease the following requirements must be met. The first rating system for Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System is Degenerative Arthritis.

VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion. VA Ratings for Arthritis Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA. What is the Maximum Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease. I received a 30 service connected for the right hip degenerative joint disease since I had a hip replacement done in Oct 2009 while still on active.

Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits who is also editor and webmaster of the popular. Important Information On Combined Ratings For The Degenerative Arthritis Condition. The VA policy in this area includes a prohibition on combining ratings. People experience great pains and stiffness plus they can even become incapable of active and of performing the simplest movements.

When a Veterans advocate sees a rating for degenerative joint disease of the spine he should first make sure that the rating was not based on the rating code listed above but rather on the rating for intervertebral disc syndrome IVDS 5293. 1101 1112 1113 1131 1137. Entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease DJD to include rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement of the right shoulder prior to July 26 2016 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. This occurs when your level of disability is beyond what the rating criteria typically reflects.