VA rates rheumatoid arthritis in the ankle under 38 CFR 4.71 (a), Diagnostic Code 5002. Since a lot of the causes of arthritis are unknown, these could all be presented as factors. Note that this doesnt require that you are carrying out military duties at the time of the injury. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! It is like having too much fluid around your joints, so they become swollen. For example: Cervical strain is one of the most common disabilities among VA benefit recipients. Here one of our VA disability lawyers goes over the questions Woods and Woods, The Veterans Firm, is often asked about veterans disability claims and appeals. When VA Raters assign a rating for a joint, consideration must be given in accordance with the following factors: A C&P exam for Arthritis involves a series of verbal questions, to include a physical examination, and diagnostic testing (X-Rays, CT scans, or MRIs, if none have been performed). In the VA rating system, orthopedic conditions affecting the spine are separated into neck conditions and back conditions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. For a free case evaluation, please contact us at 800-544-9144, This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Osteoarthritis causes degenerate changes to the cartilage whereas Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease whereby the immune system attacks the joints. Dont do it! We know what other conditions are service-connected and come up as common secondary conditions. This can cause a lot of pain because the natural shock-absorber between the joints is also not working. If youre uncertain about whether you may qualify for VA disability benefits based on a service-connected neck injury, need help putting together a solid application, or are appealing a denial of benefits, an experienced veterans disability benefits advocate can help you determine the best next steps. Bone spurs dont have a VA Rating of their own. How Does the VA Rate Arthritis with Joint Pain? Due to the Arthritis condition, does the veteran have exacerbations which are incapacitating? Similar toVA disability ratings for back pain, VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine under38 CFR 4.71ato evaluate the majority of neck pain conditions. Neck Conditions: How To Get VA Disability - The Veterans Law Office This information helps to support your claims for disability benefits. The main determining factor is how much of a Range Of Motion (ROM) you have. Multiple ratings for a single joint cannot be combined unless the codes specifically state that they can (as is the case for instability of the knee). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am thankful for being referred to Woods and Woods. When you call us, we go through an in-depth interview during your free phone calls to make sure we dont leave any money on the table for the VA. Talk to Us About Your Claim:(866) 232-5777, Have you been denied a VA disability rating for cervical spine pain, whiplash, or degenerative disc disease? There are some veterans that are able to breeze right through the application process, with all of the right paperwork and medical events detailed in their C-File. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. Please complete this form to send us your message. VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain Criteria VA uses 38 CFR 4.71a, General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to evaluate most neck pain conditions. details the rating system for neck injuries and other spinal and musculoskeletal injuries. If you were in a jeep or a tank that got the shock of an IED or even just a fender bender, you might have a record of one of these injuries in your medical record. That means some of the joints have fused together and no longer move independently of one another. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Spinal stenosis VA disability benefits are available to veterans with a spinal cord injury. You cant get VA Disability for bone spurs, but you can get a rating for pain or other related back issues. Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings will be rated based on limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved (DC 5200 etc.). The Musculoskeletal System is vast and . You will not be disappointed. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. To do so, veterans can submit evidence that their neck pain is recurring or long-lasting and interferes with daily life, as neck pain so often does. Does the veteran have anemia due to the Arthritis condition? Pro Tip: There must be x-ray evidence of Arthritis in the joints to rate under DC 5003. If you cant reach back there in any direction without shoulder pain, then we need to talk about that too. For example, if your pain causes depression, that condition may now be considered eligible. Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). If there is significant weight loss, anemia, and overall severe decrease in health but not complete incapacitation. Very few veterans will receive VA benefits for arthritis in their neck and spine alone. Neurological disorders and bowel or bladder disorders fall into this category. That amount will also go up if you have any dependents. If VA determines that your service-connected arthritis at least as likely as not caused your depression, then secondary service connection will be awarded. By submitting this form I give express consent that this serves as my electronic signature to being called, text or emailed regarding a free consultation to determine if Veterans Help Group can help me with a Social Security and/or Veteran's Disability claim. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Limited flexion can be the result of bone spurs or ankylosing spondylitis. Even if life-altering pain keeps a Veteran from doing things, the VA may only give a Veteran a 10% disability rating. This describes ankylosis as a fusion of the bones causing abnormal stiffness and immobility. VA Disability Rating for Arthritis in the Back - Berry Law 100% This rating is given to veterans who experience totally incapacitating rheumatoid arthritis, no matter how many joints are affected. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are nine main types of Arthritis: Signs and symptoms of Arthritis in veterans include: To be eligible for an Arthritis VA Rating, a veteran must meet three (3) criteria by law: If you think you have some type of Arthritis, but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA health facility nearest youto make an appointment right away! 4. What is the Osteoarthritis Disability Rating? While car wrecks are the number one source of neck injuries, there are plenty of other ways to hurt your neck when youre enlisted whether you saw combat or not. Because joint conditions are required to be rated under Limitation of Range of Motion first before they can be rated as Degenerative Arthritis. Due to the Arthritis condition, does the veteran have exacerbations which are not incapacitating? Rheumatoid arthritis is the opposite. 38 CFR 4.71a is where all of the neck (cervical) and other back injuries are listed. When however, the limitation of motion of the specific joint or joints involved is non-compensable under the appropriate diagnostic codes, a rating of 10% is for application for each such major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion, to be combined, not added under diagnostic code 5003. When your back hurts from arthritis pain, the last thing you want to do is work through the VA Disability rating system to get a higher rating or any service connection in the first place. How VA Rates Arthritis for Disability Benefits | CCK Law The #1 best way to increase your VA rating for Arthritis is to have objective medical evidence (X-Rays) to show degenerative or post-traumatic changes with worsening symptoms over time. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Pro Tip: Any Arthritis no longer active or less severe than noted above is rated under DC 5003 as Degenerative Arthritis. This rating formula is based mainly on range of motion measurements according to the following criteria: Examples of conditions that often cause neck pain are rated using the above formula include the following: Secondary service connection is when a veterans already service-connected condition causes a new, separate disability, or aggravates a preexisting disability, that is not service-connected. Veterans Help Group is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by the Veterans Administration or any other government agency or entity. All that matters is that you had a documented injury while you were enlisted. Already working with us? As your age, your joints wear out. What Should I Expect at a C&P Exam for Arthritis? While not all people that have the genetics get arthritis, there are other factors such as smoking, stress, and environmental conditions that can bring it on. 14. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. If you couldnt lift heavy weights, couldnt sit for long periods of time, couldnt stand for long periods of time, whatever. Importantly, VA reserves disability benefits for those veterans withchronicneck pain. What might first be back pain can be a signal about other illnesses. VA Disability for Arthritis in the Neck and Back Veterans Disability Benefits for Neck Pain Caused by Arthritis While enlisted, you were exposed to a lot of elements that can lead to residual neck injuries. Is the veterans Arthritis manifested by constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement which are totally incapacitating? Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. 3. You can even download the form they use to review it all right here.

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