However, if limitation of motion of the back renders a non-compensable (i.e., 0 percent) rating, a 10 percent rating will be assigned for each major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion. Degenerative disc disease is rated under 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings Musculoskeletal System, Diagnostic Code 5242. This can cause pain, stiffness, and inflammation. VA disability benefits for ankle arthritis - Woods and Woods 5003 Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic: Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings will be rated on the basis of As the impairment becomes increasingly impactful on your life and employability your case for monthly compensation will become more solid. It's important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. This usually comes in a statement from your doctor noting the condition is at least as likely as not caused by military service. Specifically, repetitive stress can cause osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. As long as you can show that one disability directly led to the other, you can apply for a secondary service connection for DDD. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 How VA Rates Arthritis for Disability Benefits | CCK Law VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain and Spinal Arthritis Specifically, the condition occurs when the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragment and herniate. For the purpose of this blog, we will be focusing degenerative arthritis. To be rated at 10 percent for arthritis of the spine, veterans must have X-ray evidence revealing two or more major joints or two or more groups of minor joints are afflicted by degenerative arthritis of the back. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. The VA uses diagnostic code 5003 to rate musculoskeletal conditions, which includes back conditions like degenerative arthritis. How VA Rates Shoulder and Arm Conditions Generally speaking, VA rates shoulder and arm conditions under both 38 CFR 4.71a - Schedule of Ratings - Musculoskeletal System and 4.73, Schedule of Ratings - Muscle Injuries . Arthritis is considered a disability, emerging in various forms at differing levels of severity. Arthritis of the spine is a breakdown of the cartilage of the joints and discs in the neck and back. Certain injuries can inevitably lead to disc damage, even if it takes several decades to manifest. Yes! Degenerative arthritis may also be referred to as osteoarthritis and is the most common form of arthritis. A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules, Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator, List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map), Social Security Disability Benefits Guide, ankle injury during military service and never fully recovered, you may find that the residual pain in the ankle causes you to walk differently, VA Disability Ratings for Plantar Fasciitis, Service Connection for Degenerative Disc Disease, Secondary Service Connection for Degenerative Disc Disease, Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Degenerative Disc Disease, How VA Rates Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Intermittent pain that can last for up to several months, Numbness in the back, arms, or lower extremities, A current diagnosis from a qualified medical professional, A description of the events or activities that led to disc damage. Free Case Evaluation Category: Veterans Disability Law Arthritis VA Rating: Types of Arthritis and VA Disability Arthritis is a condition that plagues many people across the United States. For instance, which pages you go to most. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Many Veterans are suffering from disabilities caused by service. Veterans with service-connected arthritis are entitled to VA disability benefits. During the Iraq war, a study of service personnel who were injured on the battlefield found that OA was the main reason these soldiers were discharged. Often called the wear-and-tear disease, OA is painful because when the cartilage breaks down, bare bones rub together. Veterans' Wrist Conditions: Ratings and Benefits | CCK Law As mentioned above, degenerative arthritis commonly occurs in the back. The more information you can give your doctor, the more likely you are to be approved. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? For instance, your discs are primarily made of water when youre young. This describes ankylosis as a fusion of the bones causing abnormal stiffness and immobility. Generally speaking, there are two main types of arthritis of the back: degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Those in active duty face rigorous training, multiple deployments, and carry heavy equipment and body armor that can create intense pressure on joints and contribute to arthritis. These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. While this information is not necessarily definitive in and of itself, it does provide a basis for asking your doctor or other medical professional for an opinion as to whether your osteoarthritis may have been caused by an injury in service. If you file, youll need the following to start a Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) claim: Your spinal discs do not receive the same blood supply that other parts of the body do, making them unable to repair themselves. or by testing on VA . Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 Arthritis of the back is rated under 38 CFR 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5003. However, for a rating to be assigned, veterans must be able to establish a service connection. As discussed above, the VA typically assigns a Veterans Disabilityrating of between 10 and 20% for degenerative disc disease. If their arthritis of the back is related to their time in military service, they may be eligible to receive VA disability benefits. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. These cookies do not store any personal information. Degenerative arthritis, caused by overuse of the joints or an injury, is the most common form of arthritis in veterans and is rated under Diagnostic Code 5003. VA Disability Benefits for Elbow and Forearm Injuries - Woods and Woods Bunions, Hallux Valgus, and Hammer Toe VA Disability Ratings You can file for DDD as a secondary service condition, depending on how it occurred. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim 38 C.F.R. For example, you might develop this condition over time if you were in charge of loading supplies day in and day out for several years. VA Ratings for Arthritis Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA*: 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 In the early years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, service personnel carried between 80 and 120 pounds of gear. PDF VA/DoD CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS The doctor may consider other conditions for your back pain which your doctor may or may not have tested for. Arthritis and ankle instability together might lead to a higher disability rating. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The information you obtain on this website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Doctors and patients sometimes refer to plantar fasciitis as runner's. Common VA Joint Problems and How They Are Rated - Veterans Law, ERISA (LogOut/ Appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals, Appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Increase Veterans Affairs Disability Rating, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), VA Mental Health: Legal Help for Veterans, Veterans Affairs Compensation for Sleep Apnea, VA Rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Symptoms, 2023 Veterans Affairs Disability Rate Increase, A current medical diagnosis of your disability, An event in service that led to your current disability/diagnosis. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways: slight (10%), moderate (20%), or severe (30%). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Veterans with knee pain connected to their service may be eligible for compensation. However, if you can show that your discs were torn at the outer core because of your service duties or that you sustained an injury that led to disc damage, then you may be able to show a service connection for the disability. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Ratings are based on the severity of impairment. VA Disability Benefits for Foot Conditions - Veterans Law, ERISA & LTD The RO is accustomed to evaluating multiple conditions for a single veteran and will take into account both your doctors statements and the VA doctors statements before making their final decision. 1318 [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160375, Entitlement to service connection for a hip contusion; Entitlement to service connection for a knee contusion [GRANTED] Citation Nr:18160376, Mechanical low back pain and herniated disc L4-L5 (also claimed as back injury) [REOPENED]; Right shoulder acromioclavicular (AC) joint arthritis; left ankle injury; right ankle injury [DENIED]; Citation Nr:18160387, Bilateral tinnitus [GRANTED]; bilateral pressure induced otalgia; acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160388, Bilateral shin splints; lung disorder, to include a disability manifested by shortness of breath; bilateral plantar fasciitis [DENIED]; individual unemployability (TDIU) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160389, Narcolepsy with cataplexy; residuals of shortening of the left lower extremity [GRANTED]; 20 percent for splenectomy [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160390, High cholesterol; arthritis; hypertension [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160391, Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left eye cataract [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160392, Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral eye disorder [DENIED]; memory loss; acquired psychiatric disorder; depression and generalized anxiety; [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160393, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Bilateral hearing loss; Entitlement to total disability based individual unemployability (TDIU) [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160394, Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss; acquired psychiatric disorder; headache disorder; individual unemployability (TDIU); [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160395, Hearing condition; hypertension; right knee condition; brain condition; acquired psychiatric condition [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160396, Entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veterans death [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160397, Cervical spine disorder (claimed as neck pain); bilateral hip/ankle disorders (claimed as bilateral hip pain); bilateral foot disorder; vertigo; urticaria; headaches; (TMJ) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160398, Entitlement to service connection for asthma [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160399, Acquired psychiatric disability [GRANTED]; lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritic changes; (TDIU) [GRANTED]; residual sprain of the left ankle with DJD [DENIED]; Citation Nr:18160400, Right knee disability; individual unemployability (TDIU) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160401, Right arm pain; hearing loss disability; tinnitus; erectile dysfunction, residual of an elective vasectomy; kidney cyst associated with post-operative kidney stone; & OTHERS [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160402, Right foot condition; post-fracture left fifth metatarsal; depressive disorder; left upper extremity radiculopathy; (TDIU) [GRANTED]; OTHERS [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160403, Service connection for glaucoma (bilateral eye condition); service connection for sarcoidosis (claimed as lung condition) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160404, Ischemic heart disease; prostate cancer; diabetes mellitus; erectile dysfunction [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160405, Entitlement to an initial rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches [GRANTED] Citation Nr:18160406, A clothing allowance for the year 2015 [GRANTED] Citation Nr:18160407, Reimbursement or payment for medical expenses incurred due to non-VA medical care [GRANTED] Citation Nr:18160408, Bilateral eye disability; adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood; fracture of the fifth metacarpal of the right hand; fractured sternum; OTHERS [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160409, Service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160410, Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer [DISMISSED] Citation Nr:18160411, Entitlement to service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with depression [GRANTED]; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160412, Residuals of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and/or being housebound [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160413, Vision disorder; intestinal disorder; contaminated water at Camp Lejeune; high cholesterol; hypertension; & OTHERS [DENIED]; (PTSD); (TDIU) [GRANTED]; OTHERS [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160414, Entitlement to service connection residuals of GuillainBarr Syndrome [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160415, Hypertension; migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis; individual unemployability (TDIU); Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)[REMANDED], Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease; coronary artery disease; renal insufficiency [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160417, Left shoulder disorder; right shoulder disorder; left hand and thumb disorder; right hand and thumb disorder [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160418, Entitlement to a death pension; cause of the Veterans death; burial benefits [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160419, Bowel condition; bladder condition; lumbar spine disability; lower left/right extremity radiculopathy; individual unemployability (TDIU) [DENIED]; OTHERS [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160420, Left foot impairment; mechanical thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis and moderate degenerative disc disease [GRANTED]; residual of right-fourth-finger fracture [DENIED]; OTHERS [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160421, Reduction in the disability rating for service-connected residuals of stress fracture, left foot, from 10 percent to noncompensable [IMPROPER]; 70 percent for depressive disorder [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160422, Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; service connection for folliculitis [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160423, Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160424, Entitlement to have 5 months not charged against appellants entitlement under the Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160425, Kidney disability; prostate cancer; anemia; diabetes mellitus; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160426, Heart condition (claimed as congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease), to include as due to herbicide exposure [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160427, Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160428, Entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected right hip stress fracture [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160429, Heart condition, claimed as ischemic heart disease, to include as due to herbicide exposure; prostate cancer [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160430, An initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160431, Respiratory disorder other than asbestos plaques, to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); asbestos plaques in the left lower lobe; (TDIU) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160432, Service connection for a low back disorder [DENIED] Citation Nr:18160433, Neck disability; degenerative joint disease (DJD); bilateral hearing; headaches associated with service-connected skull fracture [GRANTED]; (TDIU) [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160434, Entitlement to service connection for cause of the Veterans death [REMANDED] Citation Nr:18160435, Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. This type of arthritis usually takes place in weight-bearing joints (e.g., back, hips, knees). Instead, assign the higher evaluation. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. In all claims for an increased disability rating, VA has a duty to consider the possibility of assigning staged ratings. Additionally, combat wounds such as joint injuries from shrapnel and broken bones from roadside bombs can eventually lead to OA. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. VA Disability Benefits and Ratings for Ankle Instability - Hill Updated: January 21, 2022 Degenerative disc disease is a painful spinal condition that can affect daily life. VA Rating for Knee Pain and Secondary Conditions - Tuley Law Office document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals. Hill & Ponton P.A. SSA and VA Disability Attorney in Omaha, Nebraska, 2023 Cuddigan Law, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Service-Related Arthritis and How to Get Veterans Disability. Three episodes of rheumatoid arthritis flareups each year can increase your disability rating to 40%.