What is the VA rating for Arthritis?

DC 5000 describes 5 mutually exclusive presentations, from inactive with no recent activity (10 percent) up to pelvis, vertebrae, major-joint, or multiple-site involvement with constitutional symptoms (100 percent). The specific documented presentation, not the diagnosis alone, determines the level.

Active bone/joint tuberculosis is a flat 100 percent. Inactive bone/joint tuberculosis has no independent rating criteria in DC 5001 itself -- it directs review under 38 CFR SS4.88c and 4.89, a closed set of provisions RatingScope does not auto-compute. This is the sixth confirmed recurring instance of this exact cross-reference pattern in this repository.

DC 5009 has no independent criteria of its own. Its own dispatch note routes the active phase to DC 5002's active-process table and chronic residuals to DC 5003. RatingScope computes only DC 5009's active-phase branch. DC 5004-5008 (5 specific infectious-arthritis types) share this exact same dispatch note, but are not computed here -- a deliberate scope-narrowing choice, not an inconsistency.

DC 5003 is the general degenerative-arthritis fallback that assigns 10 percent per major joint or minor joint group only when the joint's own limitation-of-motion rating is noncompensable. It is the same code every joint-specific hub in this repository (Knee, Hip, Shoulder/Arm, Ankle, Spine, Cervical Spine, Muscle Injuries, Amputations) already references but has never computed -- a known, deliberately deferred scope item, matching Spine's existing disclosure precedent.

No. DC 5003's own Note (1) states: "The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion." A joint is rated under its own limitation-of-motion code, or under DC 5003's X-ray-based percentage if that limitation-of-motion rating would otherwise be noncompensable -- never both for the same joint. This is a documented CFR rule, not a RatingScope policy choice, and it applies regardless of which joint-specific hub the limitation-of-motion rating comes from.

No. DC 5002's own Note (3) directs assigning the higher evaluation between the active-process rating and the rating for chronic residuals (limitation of motion, ankylosis, or DC 5003 residuals). RatingScope does not compute that comparison -- the Arthritis evaluator only ever returns the active-process tier. This is disclosed, not silently resolved.

DC 5011 has no percentage table of its own -- it points to a different diagnostic code depending on the affected body system, and its own text does not name which specific arthritis code applies to musculoskeletal residuals. RatingScope does not compute any branch of DC 5011. For musculoskeletal residuals, DC 5003 (the general degenerative-arthritis fallback) is the more textually and clinically defensible reading than DC 5002 (a multi-joint inflammatory disease), but DC 5003 is itself disclosed only in this hub, so nothing is computed either way. Auditory, respiratory, and neurologic residuals point to other body-system hubs entirely and are disclosed only as well.

DC 5012's own Note provides that the 100 percent rating continues for 1 year following the cessation of surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other prescribed therapeutic procedure. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, residuals are then rated separately. RatingScope discloses this Note but does not model a second computed tier for it.

These codes (minus DC 5018, DC 5020, and DC 5022, which are confirmed removed) are pure cross-references, rated as degenerative arthritis based on limitation of motion -- the same DC 5003 fallback described above. None of them carry independent rating criteria, and none are computed here.

Possibly, through TDIU (Total Disability rating based on Individual Unemployability, 38 CFR 4.16) -- a separate pathway to 100 percent compensation based on unemployability, from this and/or other service-connected disabilities combined, independent of whether the schedular rating itself reaches 100 percent. This hub computes only the schedular percentage and does not determine TDIU eligibility.

For DC 5000, the 60 percent level is frequent episodes with constitutional symptoms, without pelvis/vertebrae/major-joint/multiple-site involvement. For DC 5002 (and its DC 5009 equivalent), the 60 percent level requires weight loss and anemia with severe health impairment, or 4 or more severely incapacitating exacerbations a year, without the totally-incapacitating presentation.

DC 5000's 30 percent level requires a definite involucrum or sequestrum rather than frequent constitutional episodes. DC 5002's 40 percent level requires definite health impairment objectively supported by examination, or 3 or more incapacitating exacerbations a year, rather than 4 or more severely incapacitating exacerbations or weight loss/anemia.

The 60 percent level adds weight loss/anemia with severe health impairment, or a higher (4 or more) exacerbation frequency. The 20 percent level is limited to 1 or 2 exacerbations a year.

The 20 percent level requires only a discharging sinus or other active-infection evidence within the past 5 years, without a documented involucrum or sequestrum.

DC 5000's 10 percent level requires no active infection evidence in the past 5 years. DC 5002's 40 percent level requires a higher exacerbation count or objectively supported health impairment.

The 20 percent level requires documented active-infection evidence within the past 5 years.