Rating Schedule for Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System
Diseases include: Arthritis, bursitis, caisson disease, fibromyalgia, gout, osteomalacia, ostemyelitis, osteoporosis, synovitis, enosynovitis, and tuberculosis.
Arthritis
Swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
The Veteran CANNOT get a ROM rating and a separate arthritis rating!
5003, 5010 Degenerative Arthritis/Post-traumatic Arthritis
Generally a rating of last resort. If the Veteran's arthritis causes reduced range of motion of a compensational degree (10% or more) or pain with movement (minimum rating). The Veteran will be rated under the applicable Bones, Tendons, and Joints schedule.
There are two groups of joints; major and minor.
Major joints:
Minor joints:
NOTE:
For the VA, there must be x-ray evidence of the arthritis in order to render a proper diagnosis.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | 2 or more major joints; OR 2 or more minor joint groups. |
| 20% | 2 or more major joints, WITH occasional incapacitating episodes. |
| 20% | 2 or more minor joint groups, WITH occasional incapacitating episodes. |
5013-5024 VA Doing VA Things
While the following conditions in the schedule says to rate these things under degenerative arthritis. It then goes on to say, they can only be rated upon how they affect range of motion. Which means they do NOT actually receive the major/minor joint treatment.
Yes, it makes no sense.
Bursitis
Gout
Heterotopic ossification
Myositis
Myositis ossificans
Non-cancerous bone growth
Osteomalacia
Osteoporosis
Paget’s disease (Osteitis deformans)
Tenosynovitis, tendinitis, tendinosis or tendinopathy
5002/5004-5009/Multi-joint Arthritis (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Veterans who have degenerate or post-traumatic arthritis will NOT be rated under this schedule!
The following conditions are rated under multi-joint arthritis:
Autoimmune arthropathies
Charcot neuropathic, arthropathy
Crystalline, arthropathy
Gonorrheal arthritis (Gonococcal arthritis)
Hypertrophic, arthropathy
Pneumococcic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Spondyloarthropathies
Streptococcic arthritis
Syphilitic arthritis
Typhoid arthritis
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
Veterans CANNOT get separate ratings for these conditions under this schedule, limitation of motion, and frozen joints. The Veteran will get whichever would gives the highest rating.
NOTE:
If the Veteran no longer rates at least 20% under this schedule they will be rated under the Degenerative Arthritis/Post-traumatic Arthritis schedule, limitation of motion, or frozen joints; Whichever would give the highest rating will be the rating the Veteran will get.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 20% | One or two incapacitating episodes a year. |
| 40% | Symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health objectively supported by examination findings or incapacitating episodes occurring 3 or more times a year. |
| 60% | Weight loss, anemia, and overall severe decrease in health but not complete incapacitation, or if severe incapacitating episodes happen 4 or more times a year. |
| 100% | Cannot function at all. |
5000 Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis)
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
One of the rare exceptions to the Pyramiding rule! The Veteran IS allowed to have a rating for the bone infection, any loss of range of motion (or if the joint is frozen), and shortening of the leg, if applicable. However, the Veteran is still subject to the Amputation rule. UNLESS, they get a singular rating of 60% or higher evaluation for the bone infection itself.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If the affected bone is successfully treated (removed) and there are no further infections. The Veteran will LOSE their rating for bone infection and will then be rated on any residuals.
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Infection(s) have been inactive for no more than 5 years and there is a medical history of repeated episodes. |
| 20% | Active infection within past 5 years. |
| 30% | New bone growth outside the infected bone or if there is a piece of dead bone that has broken off of the main skeleton. |
| 60% | Frequent episodes of infection with showing many of the below symptoms. |
| 100% | Infection involves the pelvis, vertebrae, or extending into major joints, or with multiple localization or with long history of intractability and inability to function, anemia, amyloid liver changes, or other continuous constitutional symptoms. |
5011 The Bends (Caisson Disease/Decompression sickness)
The Veteran is rated upon their symptoms be it Arthritis, Auditory, Respiratory system, or Neurological issues.
5025 Fibromyalgia (Fibrositis, Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome)
With widespread* musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud's-like symptoms:
*Widespread pain means pain in both the left and right sides of the body, that is both above and below the waist, and that affects both the axial skeleton (i.e., cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine, or low back) and the extremities.
NOTE:
Generally, a licensed rheumatologist is needed to properly diagnosis a Veteran with fibromyalgia.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
If the Veteran has other conditions that could be the source of some of the associated symptoms of fibromyalgia those conditions CAN receive their own individual ratings in conjunction with a rating under this schedule. HOWEVER, if there is no other basis established the Veteran CANNOT get separate ratings!
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Requires continuous medication for control. |
| 20% | Symptoms persist at least 1/3rd of the time. |
| 40% | Symptoms are continuous and treatments are not effective. |
5330 Rhabdomyolysis
When damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood.
Each affected Muscle group will be rated individually.
Common Secondary Conditions
5331 Compartment Syndrome
Painful condition that occurs when pressure within the muscles builds to dangerous levels.
Each affected Muscle group will be awarded a separate rating.
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