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Please complete this form to send us your message. Basically I was trying to convince the VA that the pain issues with my neck was caused by my left ankle when walking ect. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Any input would be great, thanks! Carefully read our discussions of, More Jobs for More Vets Fixing the Unemployment Problem, Fighting the Military Disability and VA Disability Systems, The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), Concurrent Retirement & Disability Pay (CRDP), conditions that are rated as Degenerative Arthritis, VA Processing All PACT Act Claims January 1st. I understand a joint condition can only be rated as degenerative arthritis if it does not have a limited enough range of motion. They kept pointing to the VA as the answer. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Were here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. You must do this within one year of the VA issuing the rating. Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting those who have served in the military. Since it has been so many years, it is just as likely that the sleep apnea developed on its own and isn't connected. So, you cannot receive a rating for degenerative disc disease and another for facet arthropathy. Ultimately, yes, they may ask for the extra money they paid you to be returned. Is it possible to be rated under 5002 for the arthralgia/flare ups as well as limited ROM? Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 As with all VAdisability ratings, the examiner will review your medical evidence looking for past diagnoses and symptoms. Massive Increase in VA Disability Rates for 2023! Many of Suggest that you gather all pertinent medical information to assist your claim. Hello Sir,I currently have a 10% rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. It depends on what the problems are. Since last posting my question I have been to the VA for my C&P exam but I am still awaiting my rating. If there is limited motion in your joint, then your condition will be rated based on that joints limited motion. Mild spinal canal stenosis. VA Ratings for Spine Issues are Based on Movement, Pain, and X-Rays Different Types of Arthritis Can Get Different VA Ratings Bone Spurs Cause Burning or Tingling in Your Hands or Feet Dont Wait Until Arthritis and Back Pain is Unbearable Get a Free Consultation from our Certified VA Lawyer Team You can look for a VA disability attorney near you or call us and join the thousands of veterans living off of VA disability thanks to Woods and Woods. Although range of motion is a big factor, the functional impairment ought to be addressed as well. http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/diseasesofthemusculoskeletalsystem.html#rheum. I figure doing an entire new claim and submit evidence this issue could possibly be exasperated from my time as a parachute specialist would be better than filing an appeal as a secondary condition for my ankle. 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, Excellent question, and a tricky situation. No spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing. If your motion is more limited, you may qualify for a higher rating on that alone. In order to strengthen your case that your spine is the cause of the headaches, you'll need to get a NEXUS letter from your physician linking the conditions. Your physicians know your case and are better able to determine the causes, etc. They do not have any evidence concerning my knee or most of the stuff on their list. VA Now Offering Toxic Exposure Screenings for All Veterans, Comprehensive List of Benefits for Veterans with Disabilities, VA Healthcare Eligibility Expansion PACT Act, VA Family Caregiver Program Now Open to All. If you believe there has been an error in your VA disability filing or that you are entitled to higher compensation, you can submit an appeal. How does the VA rate this condition? If you are filing an appeal, it can take up to 12-18 months for the VA to review and grant your appeal. A locked padlock ", For the arthritis of bilat hands/fingers/wrists the examiner stated the following:"b. You haveone yearto appeal the claim from the date ofthe denial. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. Rheumatoid arthritis, as an active condition, may receive a 100% VAdisability rating if you experience constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement and is totally incapacitating. Talk to your doctor (or our in-house nexus doctor) about your symptoms to see if they are connected. I'm wondering if the ultrasound and symptoms alone are enough for the VA to award secondary service connection? A NEXUS letter from your physician would strengthen your claim for the hypertrophy as a secondary condition. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Degenerative talonavicular arthrosis is really just degenerative arthritis of the talonavicular joint. 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, Several rating criteria affect the totalrating decision, 100% disability compensation through total disability based on individual unemployability, rated under the appropriatediagnostic code, Denied VA Benefits? Welcome to the PEB Forum! Only one rating for the entire joint. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. When examining my wrist the examiner also notated abnormal results for ROM. In contrast torheumatoid arthritis a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder that can affect more than your joints degenerative arthritis results from the wearing down of the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones. And how long are they supposed to last? You cant hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as substantially gainful employment) because of your service-connected disability. Rarely are they used to lower a veteran's ratings. I tried to go back to the incidents in the med records-but photocopies that are poor are not wanted. The baseline issue is the fact that the VA will only you a single rating for the cervical spine as a whole, no matter how many diagnosed conditions you have (nerve conditions are rated separately). You can also submit a new claim for a secondary condition or increase your disability rating by combining multiple disabilities. To establish 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 there must be a connection between your post-service symptoms and your current disability. This article covers rotator cuffs, shoulder blades, and other general shoulder injuries that qualify for VA disability. Dont post your vaccination card photo on social media, VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), infectious diseases, immune disorders and nutritional deficiencies, VA releases dashboard to measure the PACT Acts impact on Veterans and survivors, 100 years of advancing health care for women Veterans, You can request a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility through VA.gov, Call TTY if you WebFor the purpose of rating disability from arthritis, the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle are considered major joints; multiple involvements of the interphalangeal, metacarpal and carpal joints of the upper extremities, the interphalangeal, metatarsal and tarsal joints of the lower extremities, the cervical vertebrae, the dorsal If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! Applying and being approved for these benefits can seem daunting, but Recognizing and Addressing An Underrated Veteran Disability Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is sexual harassment and or sexual assault experienced by a military service member. We use our arms and shoulders for many daily tasks, including getting dressed, driving, and bathing. Hello,I was rated 20% for my back issues that I've had for several years now. I was an Air Force parachute specialist for 8 years and this job required a lot of standing at a table with my neck bent/hunched over looking down at the parachute equipment when packing. VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. WebThe VA rating system works more or less the same regardless of the type of injury, but the nature of neck arthritis can cause some unexpected challenges. I submitted a Workmens Comp Claim at CPO (Civilian Personnel Office) six years after surgery I was told that the time limitation had expired and I could not prove the Cause / Effect . Any claimed joint conditions will be rated as degenerative arthritis if there is not a significant measurement of limited range of motion to rate under those applicable diagnostic codes. Then, the conditionreceives a permanent rating after the conditional period is complete. I was so demotivated for so many years that I stayed away from care centers until I could not function. The ratings are 10% lower if they are on your non-dominant side from the 70% rating level downward. As with all VAdisability claims, proving service connection is the first important step. Yes, the arthritis can be granted secondary service-connection to the Chondromalacia Patella, but it is important to note that only a single rating can be given for the overall knee condition (unless instability is presentthat can be rated separately). Also based on the MRI results listed above are there any conditions I could file for separately for example "Mild spinal canal stenosis, mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing"? Heres how: In this video from one of our VA disability lawyers, we explain how to service connect your disability that was caused by your military service. Ok thank you I had a visit with my Primary Care Doctor and she mention my Sleep Apnea maybe the cause. Correlation for radicular symptoms. yet assertive representation for our clients. As for the rating under code 5002, the VA will rate either by these rating requirements (which would rate you 20% for the 2 incapacitating episodes) or as limited motion, whichever gives you the higher rating. Because of the Pyramiding Principle, it is standard practice to only give a single body part a single rating unless there is also nerve damage (there are other exceptions, but not for the ankle). Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. The most common cause of epidural lipomatosis is steroid use. Active cases of rheumatoid arthritis can receive up to a 100% VA disability rating for shoulder arthritis if the condition is debilitating. I want to file for an increase and wonder what rating codes this would be under. Unfortunately, the MEB Attorney's response is valid. I just had a second surgury & I doubt my current records inquiry will improve. I'm thinking of filing a claim for Achilles Tendonitis, my question is will the VA rate Achilles Tendonitis as a separate stand alone condition separate from the issues I have with my ankle? Worth a shot to apply. I got handed to psych people instead of medical people. Lock An official website of theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Looking for U.S. government information and services? Surgery can sometimes improve the function of the affected joints. Major joints include the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Learn more aboutVA benefits. Normal MRI study of the cervical and thoracic spine. For one scar they did a 10% as a secondary condition to my service connected ankle. Moderate-to-severe left and moderate right neuroforaminal narrowing. Based on the painful motion regulation, you can theoretically receive a 10% rating for different joints as long as there is not overlap causing it to count twice. Get a Free Case Evaluation, VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Extraschedular Ratings for VA Disability Claims, How to Prove Service Connection For Arthritis. So what Im pointing out is that I managed to stubbornly function because well meaning people refused to look past the surface mearly based on my lack of documentation which could refute their layers of partial The VA may schedule a compensation and pension (C&P) examination to evaluate your arthritis and assign the appropriate rating. If you have used steroids as a treatment for a service-connected condition, then it could qualify that way. VA rates disability from 0% to 100% in 10% increments (e.g. them are Veterans themselves. During Marchs Womens History Month, we celebrate 100 years of advancing women Veterans health care at VA. Are you planning to buy a home with your VA home loan benefits? Dr. Johnson, I currently have a service connected disability rating for a lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis of the left ankle. So, if you have arthritis and a meniscus condition in your knee, you can only receive a rating for one of the two conditions, whichever gives the higher rating. If a dislocated shoulder is a secondary-connection to tumors, deforming arthritis, or other disease, your treatment might look very different. However, they rated my left knee with 10% as a result of Chondromalacia Patella. Osteoarthritis can theoretically affect any joint but typically occurs in your hands, feet, spine and hips. Check out our range of motion rating info on our website. As we mentioned, shoulder injuries are extremely common among service members tasked with heavy lifting and training exercises that include overhead motions. This has happened about 3 times since that first occurrence. If your shoulder aches from time to time when it rains, youre likely to get 10 percent disability. 1. I am overseas working and at a loss how to communicate with the doctors here. Minimal spinal canal stenosis. About 6 months ago I started to have severe pain and swelling in my hands and wrists. Since it was their error, they often will decide to let it slide, but they do have the legal right to request the funds be returned. 5051 Shoulder replacement (prosthesis). If it has healed and you have recovered, the VA wont deem it a disabling condition. Over the years my knees have become worst and was recently diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in both knees. Osteoarthritis can manifest from mildly disabling to almost complete impairment, and will be rated by the VA accordingly once service connection is proven. If it causes significantly new or progressed symptoms, it could contribute to having your overall cervical spine condition increased. However, both are still rated under the musculoskeletal system conditions. I've started a secondary claim for arthritis and joint pain. Also because of the no ankylosing spondylosis will my rating go down, even though my back symptoms have worsened. Hi Dr, Just today I went in to apply for a shoulder increase. Multilevel cervical degenerative disc disease, most pronounced at C3/C4 resulting in moderate spinal canal stenosis, moderate-to-severe left neuroforaminal narrowing, and moderate right neuroforaminal narrowing. You can get a rating higher than 20%, but only if your range of motion worsens. Presumptive service connection is possible because the VA characterizes arthritis as a chronic disease under 38 CFR 3.309. I started to get the ball rolling with Mr. Woods/Mr. I was very skeptical working with an attorney at first. All Rights Reserved. No, the VA will only give you a single spine rating for your cervical spine. For the most accurate measurement and associated rating, examiners often use a goniometer regarding your joints flexion and extension. So, if your arthritis gives a higher rating than the meniscus condition, then it is rated, and the other is ignored. See your personnel office for the proper forms. The Rhumetologist, Epidemiologist have all determined that yes I have arthritis that exhibits psoriasis in most of the areas that are affected by arthritis. She came to Hill & Ponton in August 2015 wanting to help veterans and started off as a Case Manager. For more information on how to calculate this number click here. This functional loss could require surgery such as a knee replacement. 40% for ankylosing spondylosis and DDD. The VA does not rate a disability under limited range of motion and degenerative arthritis. Contact Us For a veteran experiencing occasional periods of weakness, pain, or limited motion, the condition will be rated under Diagnostic Code 5002 (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis) or 5203 (i.e., impairment of the clavicle or scapula), depending on which most closely describes the symptoms. This gives the veteran a bilateral factor of 2.8%. 2. Thankfully, the in-service injury does not need to be traumatic to be considered connected. From rotator cuffs and dislocations to poorly healed bones, shoulder and arm injuries are common among soldiers and all these injuries can lead to long-term disabilities in veterans. Major joints include the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle while minor joints include toes, fingers, spine, and sacroiliac. No facet arthropathy. Havent filed a claim yet or know that you are underrated? VAs last update came in August 2019, focusing oninfectious diseases, immune disorders and nutritional deficiencies. Now that we understand that, lets jump into arthritis. I have recently been diagnosed with Epidural Lipomatosis. My question to you is could the VA be looking at one of my service connected disabilities and potentially give me an increased rating or could this be a possible downgrade in a rating where they are looking to take something away from me. I have been self medicating for 15 years with Ibprophen (about 1600mg a day) and the Corpsmen documented the white and red patches for years. It is primarily in my L4-L-5-S1 region. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 We even pay for the postage for all of the documentation you send to our office. Evans and they did so much. First rule that you MUST understand: All joints will only receive ONE rating for the overall condition of that joint, regardless of the number of conditions that affect it. Psoriatic arthritis is rated analogous to RA: "Incapacitating episodes" for RA are periods where the condition is aggravated to the point that it is impossible for you to do your job or function well in daily life. Except for traumatic arthritis, the VA regulations state it is essential for your exam to cover all major joints. A 20% is the highest you can receive for a significantly limited ROM.