Is There A Rating For Osteoarthritis

[Charleese]

Hi all,

Is there a rating for Osteoarthritis. If so please post with Code.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[allan]

5003 Arthritis, degenerative (hypertrophic or osteoarthritis)

Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings will be rated on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved (DC 5200 etc.). 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. Limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. In the absence of limitation of motion, rate as below:

With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations...20

With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups...10

Note (1): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion.

Note(2): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be utilized in rating conditions listed under diagnostic code 5013 to 5024, inclusive.

[afoprtr]

Forgive me for jumping into your post.

My wife is rated 10% for each knee and had an MRI done on her right knee that showed mild patellofemoral osteoarthritis with a small joint effusion. She didnt get an MRI done on her left knee so of course there's no way of knowing if she has osteoarthritis on that knee also.

What I'd like to know is if she did have an MRI done on her left knee that does show osteoarthritis, would that be enough for her to put in a claim since I am assuming that the knees count as 2 major joints? Or since she's already getting 10% for each knee she wouldnt be able to put in a claim for osteoarthritis in the knee's? Thank you.