Dingodab

The disability impacts my job a bit, but really only during a flare. I work as a photographer and have a very difficult time using my hands when symptoms flare up. I usually get some prednisone and thins return back to normal in a few weeks. I made this all very clear to the examiner and she seemed to document most of what I said correctly. I may have lucked out. How the VA rates arthritis is very confusing to understand. So, first it's by limited ROM? If there's no qualification under limited ROM then it goes to 5002 or 5003 depending on symptoms? But even if under 5002 or 5003 they will rate each joint and see which is higher, and the higher rating is the rating that is given? My auto-immune disease by itself get's me a pretty decent rating. I'm hoping to get around 30% for my hands to make up some of my financial loses due to a service connected issue as a self-employed person, but I guess we'll see what happens. It scares me that a lot of what I read says the rater is given a certain amount of discretion when it comes to rating arthritis. I'd like to say I can't believe the VA gave you NSC, but unfortunately, I can. I guess we always have to decide what is worth fighting and what isn't.

Hi all, Sure wish I would have known about these forums years ago, it would have helped me a lot along the way with my journey with the VA! Anyhow, I have a SC auto-immune disease (dermatomyositis) that has caused me quite a few issues. I have some secondary SC issues that the VA has granted me compensation for. Most recently I had a C&P exam for arthritis(synovial hyptertrophy)/arthlagia secondary to my SC disease. I haven't received my rating yet but I have been able to view the exam on the Healthevet site. Arthritis seems very complicated to understand as far as rating goes. I was wondering if anyone here might be interested in giving their two cents regarding me exam? Please see below: RESTATEMENT OF REQUESTED OPINION: a. Opinion from general remarks: Is the veteran's both ynovial hypertrophy and proliferative synoviumof bilatearl wrists at least as likely as not proximately due or the result of amyopathic dermatomyositis b. Indicate type of exam for which opinion has been requested: writs TYPE OF MEDICAL OPINION PROVIDED: [ MEDICAL OPINION FOR SECONDARY SERVICE CONNECTION ] a. The condition claimed is at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition. c. Rationale: Review of medical literaure cite that a nonerosive polyarthritis which include claimed synovial hypertrophy and Proliferative synovium can be presnt in dermatomyositis. There is inflmmation of the synovium which is a membrane that lines the joints, and is associated with inflammatory and/or injury. UpToDate states 30 percent of dermatomyositis patients can have the anti- synthetase syndrome which acute onset of weight, loss , fever, Raynauds, mechanics hand aand nonerosive arthritis. The claimed synovial hypertrophy and proliferative synovium is part of the findings in in nonerosive arthritis which is also included in ANTI-SYNTHETASE Syndrome ( weight loss,fever Raynaus, mechnics hand and nonerosive arthritis) I briefly spoke to my DAV rep who said that it will likely be rated under rheumatoid arthritis because it is not degenerative arthritis but rather inflammatory arthritis. I also have limited ROM in both wrists in two joint groups in my right wrist and three joint groups in my left wrist (per the C&P exam report). There is also pain, stiffness, and flares (two in the past 6 months that were incapacitating and two that were non-incapacitating). There is also restricted ROM in all of my fingers, but I'm not sure those will be rated since the synovial hypertrophy is only present in my wrists....unless that restricted ROM in my fingers is due to my wrists? I'm not really sure. I have no reduced muscle strength. The examiner also noted that this condition impacts my work and normal daily activities on a regular basis because I can sometimes have difficulty holding and gripping objects and intense pain during flares. So, if I'm rated under 5002 I think it's possible I get 20-40%. If rated under 5002 would I also be rated for limited ROM in my wrists? Or will I be rated under limited motion and 5002 and given the higher rating of the two?