Joint pain in veterans is commonly a symptom of service-related conditions such as rheumatoid or degenerative arthritis, or other types of musculoskeletal diseases or injuries. Severe joint pain may make it difficult to stand, walk, or even sit for extended periods of time.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
Intense physical training, combat injuries, and general wear and tear from a veteran’s time in service can all cause varying degrees of joint pain. Read on to understand the different causes of joint pain in veterans and how to get a joint pain VA rating.
In this article about the joint pain VA rating:
Common causes of joint pain in veterans
The physical demands of military service make veterans especially prone to joint pain. Joint pain can be caused by a number of different injuries and conditions.
Some of these causes include:
- Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
- Gout
- Fibromyalgia
- Injury, such as a broken or fractured bone
- Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
- Septic arthritis (joint infection)
- Tendinitis
- Exertion or overuse
- Strains and sprains
Symptoms of joint pain include swelling, warmth, tenderness, and redness. You may experience pain when moving the joint or sitting still.
Joint pain VA rating and limited range of motion
Most often, the VA rates joint pain on the basis of limitation of motion, using the corresponding diagnostic codes for the affected joint(s). These ratings can be found in diagnostic codes 5200-5274 and are grouped by part of the body.
Your VA rating for joint pain is determined by which joints are affected. Ratings also vary depending on whether the injured joints are major or minor joints. The VA defines major joints as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. Minor joint groups are those on the hands and feet, as well as joints in the lower back (lumbar spine) upper back (thoracic spine), and neck (cervical spine).
Depending on the severity of limitation of motion and location of the affected joints, the VA rating for joint pain can range from 10% to 100%.
VA rating for knee joint pain
The vigorous training, manual labor, and sustained weight on your legs from carrying heavy equipment all make knee joint pain a common issue among veterans.
As with other parts of the body, the VA rates knee joint pain using the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system. Joint pain in the knee is rated under diagnostic codes 5256-5261 and can be granted a rating from 0% to 60%, depending on range of motion. Ankylosis is the stiffening or immobility of a joint.
Leg, limitation of flexion of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion limited to 15° | 30% | $524.31 |
| Flexion limited to 30° | 20% | $338.49 |
| Flexion limited to 45° | 10% | $171.23 |
| Flexion limited to 60° | 0% | None |
Leg, limitation of extension of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Extension limited to 45° | 50% | $1,075.16 |
| Extension limited to 30° | 40% | $755.28 |
| Extension limited to 20° | 30% | $524.31 |
| Extension limited to 15° | 20% | $338.49 |
| Extension limited to 10° | 10% | $171.23 |
| Extension limited to 5° | 0% | None |
Knee, ankylosis of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Extremely unfavorable, in flexion at an angle of 45° or more | 60% | $1,3161.88 |
| In flexion between 20° and 45° | 50% | $1,075.16 |
| In flexion between 10° and 20° | 40% | $755.28 |
| Favorable angle in full extension, or in slight flexion between 0° and 10° | 30% | $524.31 |
Conditions secondary to joint pain
Although joint pain is often considered secondary to other joint conditions, there are a few conditions secondary to joint pain. It’s important to understand your service-connected diagnoses and any secondary conditions so you can receive the full VA benefits you deserve.
Some of the conditions secondary to join pain include:
- Osteoarthritis can be secondary to joint pain if it develops from a service-connected joint problem. For example, if you sprained your ankle while on duty and that injury led to joint pain, which later developed into osteoarthritis, your arthritis diagnosis would be secondary to joint pain.
- Depression and other mental health issues sometimes develop when the discomfort of joint pain makes it difficult to engage in activities you used to enjoy.
- GERD, or acid reflux, can be caused by the use of painkillers, or NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or aspirin. Veterans taking NSAIDs for their joint pain are at a higher risk for developing GERD.
Bilateral joint pain
Some conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, cause veterans to experience joint pain in both arms or both legs, or “bilaterally.”
The VA applies the bilateral factor when rating joint pain that affects both sides of the body. If you have service-connected pain in upper or lower limbs on both sides, you can qualify for an additional rating known as the bilateral factor.
When disability results from injury to both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles, ratings for both sides of the body will be combined as normal, and 10% of that value will be added. For example, if you experience joint pain at a rate of 30% on your right wrist and 10% on your left wrist, your combined rating would be 37%. The bilateral factor would then add an additional 4%, therefore increasing your joint pain rating to 41%. Because the VA rounds ratings, the bilateral factor can greatly impact your monthly compensation in some cases.
TDIU for joint pain
Joint pain, regardless of the cause, can be uncomfortable and burdensome. In some cases, your condition might affect your ability to sit or type for long periods of time, making it difficult to work an office job. In other cases, joint pain may make it impossible to lift or carry heavy things, or perform manual labor that requires you to be on your feet.
If your joint pain keeps you from seeking or maintaining a job, you may be eligible to receive TDIU (total disability based on individual unemployability) benefits. TDIU pays the same compensation as a 100% VA rating without requiring a 100% rating.
Eligibility for TDIU for joint pain depends on the joint or joints affected and the severity of limitation of motion. You may also qualify for TDIU if your joint pain rating is combined with a secondary condition, such as arthritis or depression.
To be eligible for TDIU, veterans must have at least one service-connected disability rated at least 60% OR two or more service-connected disabilities, with one condition rated at least 40% and a combined rating of at least 70%.
It’s also important to note that, according to 38 CFR 4.16(a), disabilities resulting from the same medical root or a single accident could be considered as one disability for the purpose of granting TDIU.
“If you have a single in-service event that causes multiple types of injuries, the VA should consider those to all be under that umbrella of a single disability,” said VA disability lawyer Joseph Scott.
“They did good by me. I am sick, and the VA was stalling. They got me 100% permanent and total.”
R.W.
How the attorneys at Woods and Woods can help
At Woods and Woods, we have helped thousands of veterans get the VA benefits they deserve. If you are a veteran living with joint pain, call us today for a free case evaluation to see if VA-accredited attorneys can help you. You won’t pay a dime unless we win your case, and we never touch your future monthly benefits.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The VA rates knee joint pain on the basis of functional limitation, using diagnostic codes 5256-5261. Depending on severity, you may be eligible to receive a VA rating from 0% to 60%.
The VA rates joint pain on the basis of limitation of motion, using diagnostic codes 5200-5274. Depending on the severity of limitation of motion and location of the affected joints, the VA rating for joint pain can range from 10% to 100%.
