Va Rating For Knee Osteoarthritis

In order to get the highest evaluation the knee must be so unstable that it gives out or dislocates on a regular basis.

Va rating for knee osteoarthritis. So the less the knee can bend the higher the rating will be. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30 under Diagnostic Code 5257. Knee and Lower Leg Overview. Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of jointsjoint groups affected and the level of incapacitation.

For Reservists the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. Have your doctor specifically use this language when heshe explains your limitations due to knee arthritis. A knee instability VA rating can be related to arthritis but doesnt have to be. Additionally he should explain why your condition falls into that particular category.

There is a section for arthritis and knee conditions. Knee instability or crepitation creeking and clicking sounds coming from your joints can help you get a higher rating too. According to the rating criteria if the knee can straighten but cant bend all the way it is rated under 5260. Slight 10 moderate 20 or severe 30.

If you can show evidence of any kind of strenuous work put on your knee you can get closer to service-connected arthritis. The VA policy in this area includes a prohibition on combining ratings. The VA has 3 ways to categorize this aspect when rating arthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis OA is the most common form of arthritis and is defined by Mayo Clinic as a degenerative condition in which the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down.

VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling muscle spasms or evidence of painful motion. You can be rated up to 30 for certain knee conditions without having to meet the ROM criteria. The VA disability rating for knee tendonitis is also typically determined by range of motion testing. Veterans suffering from osteoarthritis may be eligible for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs VA.

When however the limitation of motion of the specific joint or joints involved is noncompensable under the appropriate diagnostic codes a rating of 10 pct 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. The VA official site states that 20 and 10 ratings mentioned above cannot be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion. Important Information On Combined Ratings For The Degenerative Arthritis Condition. Ive looked at it practically every day of my adult life.

Its important that your doctor use these three terms to explain your limitations due to arthritis. Ankylosis of the Knee Diagnostic Code 5256. If there is limited motion in your joint then your condition will be rated based on that joints limited motion. If limited motion is not present then you will receive one overall combined rating under VA diagnostic code 5003 for degenerative arthritis.

The different percentages available are 0 10 20 and 30. These will be combined not added to determine the rating for arthritis. VA joint pain ratings are funny because you have to treat every disabled joint like a different disability rating. The VA rating specialist will categorize instability of the joint in three ways.

These ratings are assigned based on how much the knee can bend.