VA Disability Benefits for Bursitis

Are you a veteran with tender, achy joints that make basic movements painful? You might be suffering from bursitis in one of your major joints. If you can connect your bursitis diagnosis to your time in the military service, you could be eligible for a bursitis VA rating. 

The veteran population is especially at risk of developing bursitis because of the intense, physical nature of military service. If you think your bursitis diagnosis was caused by a fall, a blow to a joint, or joint overuse during military service, you may be eligible for a bursitis VA rating. 

Keep reading to learn more about what bursitis is, what causes the condition, and how you may earn VA benefits for your service-connected bursitis.

What is bursitis? 

Did you know that your body has a built-in cushioning system? Bursae (plural form of bursa) are small, jelly-like sacs that are located throughout the body, including around the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and heel. They contain a small amount of fluid, and are positioned between bones and soft tissues, acting as cushions to help reduce friction. Bursae are the main reason most people are able to perform normal activities without any pain. 

When a bursa becomes inflamed from injury or overuse, you may experience pain, tenderness, swelling, and limited joint movement at the site. This condition is called bursitis. 

Many military jobs include some form of physical activity, not limited to repetitive lifting of heavy firearms, climbing, and pivoting, that can put some serious strain on major joints including hips, shoulders, knees, and elbows. This consistent trauma to the body’s major joints can lead to bursitis. 

Bursitis is typically a temporary condition, and most commonly occurs near joints that perform frequent repetitive motion. Inflammation of bursae can be caused by:

• Falls
• Blow or injury to the joint
• Joint overuse
• Over-exertion
• Gout
• Infection
• Rheumatoid arthritis

When the excessive friction between your joints becomes too much, the bursae surrounding that joint will become inflamed, causing pain that is hard to ignore. Aside from pain in one or more joints, other symptoms of bursitis may include:

• Localized tenderness
• Limited movement at the joint
• Pain when in motion
• Pain in the joint when pressure is applied
• Swollen joints
• Redness at the joint
• Sharp pain during exercise

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Bursitis in the shoulder and elbow

Bursitis in the shoulder is the most common form of bursitis that reduces the mobility of the arm. If bursitis in the shoulder develops during military service, it will likely affect how well you perform your job. 

Veterans could develop shoulder bursitis from overworking the shoulder during military service, improper and repetitive lifting, or as a result of a direct injury or blow to the shoulder. If your condition develops after service, everyday tasks at home and at work could become painful.

Symptoms of shoulder bursitis include a sharp, pinching pain in the shoulder, increased pain when performing overhead tasks, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. Shoulder pain from bursitis may come on suddenly and gradually. 

Bursitis in the elbow, much like other forms of bursitis, can be caused by overuse of the joint and repetitive pressure on the elbows. Researchers found that bursitis in the elbow is more common in combat vs non-combat veterans because those in combat are more likely to suffer from repeated trauma to the elbows from crawling and outdoor training. 

If you have bursitis in the elbow, the pain and swelling could make it difficult to do the daily activities you are used to. 

Bursitis in the hip and knee

Bursitis in the hip can be a result of repetitive stress on the hip, spinal issues such as scoliosis, arthritis, bone spurs, or a previous surgery. In the hip, there are two major bursae that could become inflamed: the bursa that covers the bony point of the hip bone and the bursa that is located on the inside of the hip (on the groin side).

In the early stages of hip bursitis, you may feel sharp, intense pain in the hip and can get worse after prolonged sitting, standing, or climbing stairs. 

Bursitis in the knee develops when the bursa in front of your kneecap begins to swell, limiting your ability to bend and straighten your leg. Some don’t feel any pain, but others feel achiness and tenderness in the knee, while running, kneeling, and even when at rest. 

If your job during military service included frequent kneeling that put pressure on your knees, or your knee took a direct hit during military service, you may be more at risk for bursitis in the knee. 

VA disability ratings for Bursitis

Bursitis is a condition that is eligible for VA disability benefits. Similar to other musculoskeletal conditions, the bursitis VA rating is based on how it affects your range of motion and your level of pain during movement. The totality of circumstances, symptoms, and functional loss caused by bursitis plays into the rate of compensation you’re entitled to.

The diagnostic code for bursitis is 5019, which calls for the VA to first use the rating criteria for degenerative arthritis. 

Degenerative arthritis rates at either 10%, 20%, or higher depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms. However, in cases where a veteran’s bursitis is more severe, the VA will typically rate the condition instead based on the limitation of range of motion in the affected joint or joints. We explain more below.

Shoulder bursitis VA rating

The VA rates bursitis in the shoulder using diagnostic codes 5200-5203. Disability ratings for shoulder bursitis range from 10% to 80% disabling based on limitation of motion of the arm and pain. 

For example, ankylosis or immobility of the shoulder is covered under diagnostic code 5200. Ratings also depend on whether a major or minor joint is affected. 

Elbow bursitis VA rating

The VA rates elbow bursitis using diagnostic codes 5205-5212. The specific diagnostic code used to rate your condition depends on how your bursitis affects the range of motion in your elbow and pain. 

Ankylosis or immobility of the elbow is covered under diagnostic code 5205, which can rate up to 60%. Other ratings consider how much you can flex or extend your elbow or whether you have an impairment in the ulna or radius. These ratings range from 10% to 60% disability.

Ratings also depend on whether a major or minor joint is affected. 

Hip bursitis VA rating

If you’re a veteran with a hip bursitis diagnosis, the VA may rate your condition under diagnostic codes 5250-5255, which all address range of motion and pain at the hip.

The specific diagnostic code used to rate your condition is largely based on how your hip joints are affected by bursitis, including how limited the range of motion of your hips has become. 

For example, full immobility of the hip is covered under diagnostic code 5250. Other ratings consider how much you can flex or extend your hip. These ratings range from 10% to 90% disability.

Ratings also depend on whether a major or minor joint is affected.

Knee bursitis VA rating

The diagnostic code for your condition depends on the range of motion, causes abnormal stiffening of the knee joint, or causes frequent dislocation of the knee. 

Based on what you’re experiencing, your knee bursitis could be rated under diagnostic codes 5256-5262. Diagnostic code 5256 covers immobility at the joint, for example. Other codes consider knee “locking,” flexion, extension, instability, and more. One of the factors the VA uses to measure the extent of a knee injury is functional loss. 

Additionally, ratings depend on whether a major or minor joint is affected. 

Service connecting bursitis

In order to receive VA disability benefits for bursitis, you’ll need to be able to service connect the condition. Here are a few ways you can prepare to service connect your bursitis:

1. Think back to when you served in the military. Did you experience any joint injuries or do any of these movements repetitively?: 

• Lifting heavy objects
• Crawling on the ground
• Experiencing an injury or direct blow to a joint
• Kneeling on the ground or putting pressure on your knees
• Overusing or overexerting any joint through physical activity

2. Be sure that you have an official bursitis diagnosis, or be prepared to get one. A current bursitis diagnosis from a medical professional is required to be eligible for benefits. 

3. Gather evidence to support your claim. When applying for VA benefits for bursitis, gather as much supporting evidence as you can. This includes:

• VA medical records. If you reported joint pain during service or saw a military doctor during service for your joint pain, your sickbay visits should have been recorded. 
• Private medical records. In addition to submitting documentation of your bursitis diagnosis, a nexus letter from a medical professional can help with your claim. This letter should explain how your service or another service-connected condition caused your bursitis. If you were diagnosed with bursitis before or during service, this documentation could instead show that your disability has gotten worse.
• Buddy statements or lay statements. These could be from family members, friends, or people you served with. These statements should tell the VA more about your bursitis: like how it happened, how it has progressed, and how it limits your daily activities.  

If you believe that repetitive use of your joints during service contributed to a bursitis diagnosis, you could be eligible for VA compensation. 

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Get help with your VA disability claim

When you’re ready to file a claim for  VA disability benefits for bursitis or appeal a denied claim, the VA-accredited attorneys at Woods and Woods are here to help. Contact our team to get started today. 

Talk to Us About Your Claim: 
(812) 426-7200

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