http://blog.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/2018/01/secondary-conditions-for-va-disability.html. The first thing you need to do is request your VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE). http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/vasrdprinciples.html#pyram. Basically I was trying to convince the VA that the pain issues with my neck was caused by my left ankle when walking ect. 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. Is it possible to get the facet athropathy secondary to cervical spine DDD (two separate ratings)? Any input would be great, thanks! Unless you also have instability, the only way to increase your rating is for your range of motion to significantly decrease. She also volunteered at the non-profit organization NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) advocating for and providing resources to those with mental health conditions while pursuing her degree. 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? Evans and they did so much. 3. Then a scar on my knee they rated a stand alone 10%. 2. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! Hi Dr, Just today I went in to apply for a shoulder increase. Since this condition had gotten somewhat worse I have been experiencing headaches. 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, Since you have multiple disc conditions, you could qualify for a rating under Intervertebral Disc Syndrome instead if that offers higher rating under incapacitating episodes. Under the VAs schedule of ratings, they can rate arthritis as degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis several criteria affect that decision. And I have the new neck problems. One of these includes a temporary rating based on hospitalization. I attempted to let the same doctor writing my appeal to go over them. Factors including frequency and severity of joint swelling, stiffness, tenderness should all be reported and discussed to achieve a full picture of the severity. At Woods and Woods, the Veterans Firm, weve helped thousands of veterans with their VA disability applications and appeals. The length of this period will depend on the specific of the condition, but it would have to be significant. They do not have any evidence concerning my knee or most of the stuff on their list. VA Disability Ratings for Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair The VA will rate rotator cuff surgery based on the severity of the pain and the thickness rotator cuff tears, often There are about 2 accurate statements in the report loss of smell & that I declined to have the bump surgcally removed. He is a professional in the work he is doing. so they are taking 10% away from me. Major Minor. Additionally, I have had four "flare ups" in less than a year, two of which I received prednisone for and two of which I did not. We can help maximize your compensation and make sure you get the disability rating youre entitled to the first time you file for disability. In late 2017, VA began a multi-year effort to revise and update the VASRD, or VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. I have been diagnosed with multilevel facet arthropathy (aka facet joint osteoarthritis) in my upper neck and I'm in the process of getting a service connected rating from the VA. It is thought that degenerating discs can place undue stress on the facet joints, thus over time leading to degeneration and formation of osteoarthritis in the facet joints". Suggest that you gather all pertinent medical information to assist your claim. Hello Dr. Johnson. I called my parents doctor -got a referral and paid for a workup with xrays that were better than the sectionals at LBRMC. In some cases, these conditions may lead to loss of use and incapacitating episodes. Web: A Veterans degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warrants a 20 percent based on limitation of motion under the General Rating Formula and his mild radiculopathy of the left I was very skeptical working with an attorney at first. Hello, My question relates to psoriatic 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 You can file a Notice of Disagreement, take the higher review lane, orsubmit a supplemental claim. We even pay for the postage for all of the documentation you send to our office. Your combined rating is This is making me very nervous. Thank you. Note (2): The 20 percent rating on the basis of activity within the past 5 I claimed synovial hypertrophy/proliferative synovium of bilateral wrists and also arthritis of bilateral fingers, hands, and wrists all secondary to amyopathic dermatomyositis (for which I am SC). An untreated AC injury can make daily, independent life a struggle. The author of my 2nd board did try by sending me to Nuclear med for imaging. 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. Symptoms and signsof AC shoulder separation include: Before you canapplyfor VA disability for AC joint separation, you need to gather evidence and supporting documents to file with your claim. It takes about 125 days to get an answer to your initial claim. Rotator cuff injuries are common among veterans who have experienced traumatic injuries while in service. It is primarily in my L4-L-5-S1 region. Does the VA look at and rate arthrosis the same as arthritis? 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. If it doesnt clearly state this, then it doesnt apply. You haveone yearto appeal the claim from the date ofthe denial. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. The presence of sleep issues while in service does not directly mean sleep apnea. 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. According to the VA regulations, if your symptoms of arthritis appear within one year of discharge from service and qualify for at least a 10% VAdisability rating, the presumption of service connection applies. What causes shoulder arthritis?Osteoarthritis. Injury to the shoulder joints. Rotator cuff muscle injuries ("cuff tear arthropathy") Injuries to the rotator cuff muscles, such as a large tear, can also increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.Rheumatoid arthritis. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 They will look at the overall symptoms and assign the highest rating they can based on those symptoms. Knowing how the VA determines benefits for arthritis can also help Veterans get their condition service-connected. I was at Three FOBs ( Forward Operations Bases) in Iraq Camp Anaconda Balad, Camp Cooke Taji and Q-West Qayyarrah, between 2004 and 2008. It depends on what the problems are. Contact us today, and lets get started building your case. Examples for shoulder and arm injuries could include a VA disability rating for shoulder range of motion, VA disability rating for shoulder tendonitis, or VA disability rating for shoulder impingement. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Degenerative arthritis can receive the following disability compensation ratings from the VA*: Rheumatoid arthritis can receive the following disability ratings from the VA: Arthritis is one of the main disabilities facing todays veterans and the VA has many resources and benefits available to you if you are suffering from arthritis. Never hurts to strengthen your case by getting a NEXUS letter from your physician, however. 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. This injury is typically caused by a fall directly on the shoulder point or a direct blow from contact. All the military and VA did was give me medication. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim The VA diagnostic code for rheumatoid arthritis is 5002. You may be owed compensation. Yes, tendonitis would be rated as limited motion as well. If limited motion is not present, then you will receive one overall combinedrating under VA diagnostic code 5003 for degenerative arthritis. And how long are they supposed to last? For one scar they did a 10% as a secondary condition to my service connected ankle. Three months after returning from Balad in 2008 I had open heart surgery to replace my failing Aortic Valve at St Josephs Hosp in Syracuse NY. 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. These changes were based on scientific and/or medical information and reflect cited, published materials available to the public, said Acting VA Under Secretary for Benefits Thomas Murphy. Therefore, the C&P examiner ought to test for active and passive, weightbearing and non-weightbearing, motion pain. If you have arthritis or another secondary condition related to your AC separation, you may be eligible for further compensation under acombined rating. The VASRD's 15 body systems had seen periodic updates, but this continuing effort reflects the first comprehensive review in 70+ years. Because these measurements are vital in the arthritis rating, a physician must record the exact range of motion measurements using a goniometer. Given this information, do you believe I will be rated under 5002 for wrist arthralgia (claimed as bilateral proliferative synovium/synovial hypertrophy) or will I be rated for limited ROM? If a prosthetic device replaces the entire shoulder joint, the condition is rated at 100% for the month following discharge from the hospital. Is there a possibility degenerative disc disease (DDD) causes or exasperates the condition of cervical spondylosis? Would I have a chance for additional disability rating if I filed the arthritis as a secondary cause of the Chondromalacia Patella? If the VA sends you a letter stating that they denied your claim, its important to contact a veterans rights lawyer to figure out your next steps. There is no significant medical evidence to correlate the build up of fat to abnormal gate. What to Expect When Filing Your Initial VA Claim, Top 10 Questions About Military Sexual Trauma (MST). However, they rated my left knee with 10% as a result of Chondromalacia Patella. Considering that you have not been medically separated because of the condition, it is unlikely that you have had many incapacitating episodes. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. They will simply include it in your overall cervical spine condition. For example, the VA regulations provide that if you are service-connected for an amputation and subsequently develop arthritis, arthritis may be granted service connection secondary to the amputation. Correlation for radicular symptoms. Under the VArating schedule, there is a standard 20% disability rating if there is x-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints, or minor jointgroups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS I had earlier x-rays of my neck, that a neurologist told me I had arthritis in my neck. What is my disability for this type of arthritis? This article covers rotator cuffs, shoulder blades, and other general shoulder injuries that qualify for VA disability. However, if your arthritis symptoms are at the degree of a 10 percent disability rating or more within the first year from discharge it is possible to obtain a presumptive service connection. An official website of theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Looking for U.S. government information and services? Not at all. Correlation for radicular symptoms. About 6 months ago I started to have severe pain and swelling in my hands and wrists. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Center Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Also my ankle hurts when I move it so can I apply the painful motion principle to my already existing ankle rating to get an increase? I'm wondering if the ultrasound and symptoms alone are enough for the VA to award secondary service connection? Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting those who have served in the military. 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. Visit USA.gov, This will take you to the MyHealtheVet website, This will take you to the Suicide Prevention website, This will take you to the VA Find a Form page, This will take you to the VA Publications page, VA updates rating criteria for musculoskeletal and muscle injuries, The Great American Spit Out February 25, Veterans! Moderate-to-severe left and moderate right neuroforaminal narrowing. The report then lists general degenerative arthritis and traumatic arthritis with 268,882 and 258,135 recipients, respectively. Nonsurgical treatments for AC separation include a sling, ice packs, and medications to manage the pain. 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. When examining my wrist the examiner also notated abnormal results for ROM. Some veterans will undergo a knee replacement, with hip and knee joints being the most common, to help with mobility and pain. No spinal canal stenosis or neuroforaminal narrowing. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Excellent question, and a tricky situation. No matter how many ranges of motion are impacted! San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Only occasional chest x rays that mention spondylosis in a couple places- but when I ask about it get assured its no concern to them because I don t lie and scream sbout level 8 pain. All of these falling under VASRD code 5200. Sir, I was diagnosed with multilevel cervical facet arthropathy or as the VA calls it "cervical spondylosis." Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 But, rheumatoid arthritis will only be rated either as an active condition or for its chronic residuals. Yet establishing a service connection for shoulder and arm injuries can still be a challenge. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Physical therapy can also help manage pain and restore some of the range of motion to the shoulder. http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/diseasesofthemusculoskeletalsystem.html#a. Presumptive service connection is possible because the VA characterizes arthritis as a chronic disease under 38 CFR 3.309. If you cannot get and/or keep gainful employment because of your shoulder condition, you may qualify fortotal disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). Many with identified surgeries which made me understand staying to fight a person intent on ridding U more than helping U even have a chance was beyond my capacities right then. But depending on the quality of in service evidence, it could be enough. An official website of the United States government. VA requires that limitation of Some of the causes include joint injuries or repeated stress on the joint(s) from sports or job duties. You can try, but there is a high likelihood that it would be denied. AC separation patients may also experience arthritis because the shoulder separation damages the ligaments surrounding the AC joint. I did get my new GP to approve hip imaging after somehowe I got into a non VA cinic during a bad day only to learn I most certainly need a hernia looked at that up till very revently I could not feel like a normal person would. yet assertive representation for our clients. A VA disability rating percentage is awarded in multiples of 10, representing the severity of the impact of the disease or injury. I guess they needed to test me with the Ucmj and heavy sea duty. C3/C4: Posterior disc osteophyte complex in contact with the anterior spinal cord. If you have to have your arm amputated up to the deltoid, which is midway above your elbow, youll get a rating of 80 percent. Bilateral facet arthropathy. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Thus, the VA could increase your current rating if the ratings for arthritis allow it, but you would not give a second separate rating for the arthritis. Another example is if you were diagnosed with high blood pressure while on active duty and later developed complications from it, you may be entitled to further review and/or compensation. Moderate spinal canal stenosis. Unfortunately, the MEB Attorney's response is valid. http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/thespine.html#form. Claims for musculoskeletal and/or muscle injury conditions adjudicated after Feb. 7, but were pending on the effective date, will be considered under both the old and new rating criteria, and whichever criteria is more favorable to the Veteran will be applied. Often, however, they do not. To receive veterans benefits for your Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, you mustprove a service connection for the condition. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You can always try to submit a new claim, but it is likely to not be successful. Because limited motion is so vital to your arthritis rating, it is essential that physicians record the exact measurements for your range of motion measurements. Symptoms of Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, VA Disability Applications for Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, Establishing a Service Connection for VA Disabilities, VA Disability Rating for Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, Secondary Conditions to Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, Amputations Resulting From Shoulder and Arm Conditions. I have had sleep issues for years including while I was in. Or would this condition fall under diagnostic code 5003: Degenerative arthritis and if there is pain on movement then it rates 10% because of the Painful Motion principle. Yes, the examiner basically stated that in their opinion the synovial hypertrophy is SC while the arthritis is not. 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. You can get a rating higher than 20%, but only if your range of motion worsens. Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices I also have a question about Administrative Decision For Cue. Chronic conditions must develop to at least 10% within 1 year of service to be considered at all. It does mention in my rating paperwork arthritis in my back as well. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 The musculoskeletal and muscle injuries portion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)has been revised to reflect updated medical information used to assess Veterans medical records and determine their VA disability rating. degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (previously rated as strain, lumbosacral spine, with disc space narrowing DC5237. You can claim the condition either way as long as you provide opinions from your physicians denoting the connection. They found a bump I had on my right hairline area. I was hopeful because the POA statements made the system act to allow an LHI look-and the let me upload the workup documentation to the DOD evidence intake fax yet nobody could ingorm me how to upload the x rays supporting the documentation. You can compare your current symptoms to the spinal ratings to determine what you currently qualify for: Since your issues are mainly disc-related, they'll be rated under code 5243: Painful motion only comes into play if the ankle doesn't qualify for any other rating. Normal MRI study of the cervical and thoracic spine. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing. Although range of motion is a big factor, the functional impairment ought to be addressed as well. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of joints/joint groups affected and the level of incapacitation. Because most of the people are complaining about their system. I am overseas working and at a loss how to communicate with the doctors here. Thanks for all the help and advice you are giving us. If you are not receiving maximum compensation, you can file foran increaseif your condition worsens. What Is Acromioclavicular Joint Separation? I'm thinking of filing a claim for headaches as a secondary condition to the facet joint osteoarthritis in my neck. A NEXUS letter from your physician would strengthen your claim for the hypertrophy as a secondary condition. It really hurts when no one put attention to the person who served his country and puts his life in danger. If you are already service-connected for arthritis and stay in a hospital for over 21 days as a result of your condition (i.e., joint replacement surgery), you may qualify for a temporary 100% total rating for the duration of your hospital admittance. This is the link to get started, FAST. How Can You Increase Your Shoulder Injury VA Disability Rating? How does the VA rate this condition? Bilateral facet arthropathy. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. Arthritis has now developed secondary to your shoulder condition. If you hear from the VA, give us a call to make sure we got the information too. They typically add up disabilities and veterans meet the criteria like this: 1. This involves the recovery period following a surgery related to your service-connected condition.