Could Arthritis Be Caused By Military Service

Arthritis is the nearly common disability and affects 52.5 meg adults in the U.s., or one in every five. There are two chief types of arthritis: degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. For the purposes of this blog, the primary focus will be on VA disability for degenerative arthritis, which affects 27 meg Americans.

Degenerative arthritis may also be referred to as osteoarthritis and is the almost common grade of arthritis. According to the American University of Orthopedic Surgeons, degenerative arthritis is the master reason for belch from agile duty military service. Degenerative arthritis of the spine is listed as i of the nigh prevalent service-connected medical atmospheric condition in the 2018 VA benefits report, with 505,553 disability benefits recipients for the status. The report and then lists general degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis with 268,882 and 258,135 recipients, respectively.

In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis – a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder that can affect more than than your joints – degenerative arthritis results from the wearing down of the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your basic. Degenerative arthritis leads to symptoms including pain, stiffness, limitation of motion, limitation of flexion, grating sensation or clicking with articulation use (known as crepitus or crepitation), swelling, and joint instability or buckling (i.east., human knee giving out). Osteoarthritis can theoretically affect any joint but typically occurs in your hands, anxiety, spine and hips. While it is known to upshot in the breakup of cartilage, information technology also affects the unabridged joint.

Description of degenerative arthritis. VA arthritis rating

Equally the condition worsens, the os may harden, change shape or develop bone spurs. Additionally, the connective tissues deteriorate and there is often inflammation of the joint lining. Some of the causes include articulation injuries or repeated stress on the joint(south) from sports or task duties. For the average person, the cartilage breaks downwards gradually but for veterans, the breakdown often occurs suddenly within i or two years mail injury. In some cases, these weather may lead to loss of use and incapacitating episodes. This functional loss could require surgery such as a genu replacement.

How to Prove Service Connexion For Arthritis

As with all VA disability claims, proving service connection is the beginning important step. Considering of the nature of the condition, there doesn't demand to be a traumatic event, or injury, to prove service connection for osteoarthritis. Repetitive stress on your joints with documented symptoms can be sufficient to plant your claim since service connection for arthritis may exist proven through connected symptomology. This means that the typical medical evidence of a diagnosis or nexus is non necessarily needed if yous are able to show continuation of reported symptoms from service.

To plant service connection through continuity of symptomatology, the claimed disability must be considered chronic pursuant to 38 CFR 3.309(a), symptoms must be documented in service and after discharge, and in that location must be a connection betwixt your post-service symptoms and your current disability.

But arthritis tin also be presumptively service-connected. Co-ordinate to the VA regulations, if your symptoms of arthritis appear within one yr of discharge from service and qualify for at least a ten% VA disability rating, the presumption of service connectedness applies.

Another choice for service connectedness is to claim arthritis equally a secondary inability. In this scenario, your arthritis would have to be the issue of, or secondary to, a divide disability that is currently service-connected. For example, the VA regulations provide that if you are service-continued for an amputation and subsequently develop arthritis, arthritis may be granted service connection secondary to the amputation.

VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis

Under the schedule of ratings in the VA regulations, arthritis may be rated under degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Several rating criteria affect the total rating conclusion. However, both are however rated nether the musculoskeletal system conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis, equally an active condition, may receive a 100% VA disability rating if you experience ramble manifestations associated with active joint involvement and is totally incapacitating. The rating schedule and then steps down to sixty% inability rating which could however authorize a veteran to 100% disability compensation through full disability based on individual unemployability. Adjacent possible rating for arthritis is xl%, followed by a 20% rating, which involves ane or two exacerbations annually with a well-established diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis, in terms of chronic residuals, volition be rated nether the advisable diagnostic lawmaking for the group of small-scale joints involved, major joints, etc. Only, rheumatoid arthritis will but exist rated either equally an agile status or for its chronic residuals. The VA diagnostic code for rheumatoid arthritis is 5002.

Arthritic patient holding a ball. VA arthritis rating

Osteoarthritis can manifest from mildly disabling to well-nigh complete damage, and volition be rated by the VA accordingly one time service connexion is proven. The VA may schedule a compensation and alimony (C&P) examination to evaluate your arthritis and assign the appropriate rating. As with all VA disability ratings, the examiner will review your medical bear witness looking for past diagnoses and symptoms. If at that place is insufficient documentation, the C&P examiner may order boosted tests.

With whatever form of arthritis, your ranges of movement, and any associated pain, are important factors to be evaluated. Because limited movement is so vital to your arthritis rating, information technology is essential that physicians record the exact measurements for your range of motion measurements. For the nearly accurate measurement and associated rating, examiners often employ a goniometer regarding your joint's flexion and extension. Except for traumatic arthritis, the VA regulations country it is essential for your exam to cover all major joints.

X-Ray of hand with joint explanation. VA Arthritis ratings

The key is that the VA volition initially look at each joint independently to decide whether at that place is limited motion and if at that place is joint pain with motility. If there is limited motility in your articulation, and so your condition will be rated based on that articulation'south limited motion. If limited motion is not present, then you will receive one overall combined rating under VA diagnostic code 5003 for degenerative arthritis. Whatever claimed joint weather volition be rated equally degenerative arthritis if in that location is not a significant measurement of limited range of movement to rate under those applicable diagnostic codes. The VA does non rate a disability under limited range of motion and degenerative arthritis.

Moreover, if there is hurting (without express motion), then the VA'south painful movement principle kicks in. Nether the painful movement rule, the minimum compensable rating of ten% must be assigned. Therefore, the C&P examiner ought to exam for active and passive, weightbearing and not-weightbearing, motion pain. If possible, the examiner should also exam your unaffected joint for an accurate evaluation of your range of motion. Based on the painful movement regulation, yous can theoretically receive a 10% rating for different joints as long as at that place is not overlap causing it to count twice. Although range of motion is a big gene, the functional impairment ought to be addressed as well. Factors including frequency and severity of joint swelling, stiffness, tenderness should all be reported and discussed to accomplish a total flick of the severity.

Under the VA rating schedule, at that place is a standard 20% disability rating if at that place is x-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints, or minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations. Major joints include the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle while minor joints include toes, fingers, spine, and sacroiliac. If ii or more major or minor joint groups are affected, merely there are no incapacitating exacerbations, a 10% rating may exist assigned. If just ane major or minor articulation group is affected, y'all may only receive a rating higher than 0% under diagnostic code 5003 if there is likewise prove of painful movement.

Additionally, while in that location are other forms of arthritis under the VA codes, such as pneumococcic or traumatic, these specific forms are rated within one of the 2 main umbrellas: degenerative or rheumatoid. If a status is rated nether degenerative arthritis, and so your last rating may have a code listed prior to identify the status itself and and then list 5003 to show how it is rated (i.e., 5010-5003).

Temporary 100% Ratings For VA Disability Claims

Surgery can sometimes improve the function of the affected joints. Some veterans will undergo a knee joint replacement, with hip and knee joints being the most common, to help with mobility and pain. These surgical procedures for your arthritis may open the door to other claims, higher ratings, and VA disability benefits.

1 of these includes a temporary rating based on hospitalization. If you are already service-connected for arthritis and stay in a hospital for over 21 days equally a result of your condition (i.due east., joint replacement surgery), you may qualify for a temporary 100% total rating for the duration of your hospital comprisal. Similarly, the VA may honour a temporary 100% inability rating for convalescence. This involves the recovery menstruation post-obit a surgery related to your service-continued condition. For a convalescence merits to be awarded, the menstruum must exist at to the lowest degree one month, surgery has resulted in postoperative residuals like being housebound or a continuing need for crutches or wheelchair, or a major joint has been immobilized by a cast.

If you need help with a service-connected claim for arthritis, feel free to requite us a call for a costless case evaluation!