VA Rating: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can be debilitating. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, you might not think of it as a condition that may be service-connected. But, certain toxic exposures are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. If you can establish that your condition is service-connected, you may receive VA disability benefits for rheumatoid arthritis. Here’s what you need to know about how the condition is rated.

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What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy cells–specifically, the joints. The condition can be very painful, make movement difficult, impact balance, and even cause deformity of joints. Medication, pain management techniques, and certain types of physical activity can slow the impact and/or mitigate pain. However, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis.

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VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The VA disability rating for rheumatoid arthritis will depend on the type and severity of symptoms. The condition is evaluated under 38 C.F.R. §4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5002 for multi-joint arthritis. The possible disability ratings are:

20% with a well-established diagnosis and one or two exacerbations in a year
40% for “definite impairment of health” evidenced either by physical examination or by three or more incapacitating exacerbations in a year
60% if the veteran suffers any of the following:
- Weight loss and anemia leading to severe impairment of health
- Severely incapacitating exacerbations four or more times a year
- Severely incapacitating exacerbations less frequently than four times a year but for prolonged periods
Constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement, totally incapacitating

Reading that list, you may be unsure which category your symptoms fall into. Even if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, those descriptions likely leave you with questions. For example, what is a “severe” exacerbation versus an “incapacitating” exacerbation? What does “prolonged” mean in this context?

That’s one advantage of working with an experienced VA disability benefits advocate. At Disabled Vets, we’ve helped thousands of disabled veterans pursue the benefits they deserve. We know what type of evidence the VA is looking for, and how they’ve treated similar cases in the past. So, you don’t have to guess at definitions or figure out what documentation to submit on your own.

Conditions Secondary to Rheumatoid Arthritis

The VA disability ratings listed above are for rheumatoid arthritis alone. If you have another debilitating service-connected condition or a secondary-connected condition, that condition can increase your overall disability rating. Rheumatoid arthritis has been tied to a variety of other medical conditions, ranging from cardiopulmonary issues to depression–conditions you might not think to connect. If you have rheumatoid arthritis and suffer from other medical conditions, ask your doctor if they may be connected.

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Get the Help You Need with Your VA Disability Claim Now

Whether you’re just starting your VA disability claim, have been denied, or have received a disability rating you think is too low, we’re here to help. Call 888-373-4722 right now, or fill out our contact form here.

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form