Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
An autoimmune disease that inflames multiple joints. VA rates the active disease on how incapacitating the flares and constitutional symptoms are, or rates the permanent joint damage joint by joint, whichever is higher.
Presumptive condition — Chronic disease presumption (38 CFR 3.307/3.309(a))
Arthritis is a listed chronic disease: RA that manifests to a compensable degree within one year of separation is presumed service-connected.
How the VA rates it
Rated under DC 5002, which now covers multi-joint arthritis (except post-traumatic and gout) affecting 2 or more joints as an active process; rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies are the listed examples. The active process is rated 20 to 100 percent based on frequency of incapacitating exacerbations and overall health impairment (weight loss, anemia, constitutional symptoms). Chronic residuals such as permanently limited or painful joints are instead rated per joint under DC 5003 and the joint-specific motion codes. VA assigns whichever route rates higher; the two cannot be combined.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 100%Active disease with constitutional manifestations, totally incapacitating.
Less than totally incapacitating, but with weight loss and anemia causing severe health impairment, or severely incapacitating exacerbations 4 or more times a year (or fewer but over prolonged periods).
Symptom combinations causing definite impairment of health objectively supported by exam findings, or incapacitating exacerbations 3 or more times a year.
One or two exacerbations a year in a well-established diagnosis.
Secondary condition strategy
Commonly claimed secondary to this
Conditions veterans often develop from this one — each can be its own rating under 38 CFR 3.310.
- Major Depressive Disorder — A painful, progressive autoimmune disease with unpredictable flares commonly supports a secondary depression claim.
- Anemia — Anemia of chronic disease accompanies active RA; note that anemia also appears inside the 60 percent criteria, so it cannot be separately rated when it is the basis of the 5002 tier.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease — Long-term NSAID and corticosteroid therapy for RA can cause ulcers and GI bleeding claimed as medication side effects.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- Get rheumatology records with objective markers (rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, inflammatory markers, joint imaging) into the file; the higher tiers require objectively supported health impairment.
- Track and document every flare: dates, duration, whether you missed work or were bedbound. The 40 and 60 percent tiers turn on how many incapacitating exacerbations you have per year.
- If your RA has burned out into permanent joint damage, ask VA to rate each damaged joint's limitation of motion instead; multiple joint ratings combined can exceed the active-process rating.
- Document medication side effects (GI problems, immunosuppression complications); they can support additional secondary claims.
Rating rules to know
Ratings for the active disease process cannot be combined with ratings for chronic residuals (limitation of motion or ankylosis) of the same condition; VA assigns whichever is higher. If residuals are rated per joint, the bilateral factor applies when paired joints are involved.
Related diagnostic codes
More musculoskeletal conditions
Lumbosacral Strain (Low Back Strain)
Chronic strain of the low back muscles and ligaments, one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities. VA rates it on how far you can bend and move your low back, not on how much it hurts.
Rated up to 100%
Limitation of Knee Flexion
The most commonly rated knee disability: how far you can bend the knee. Ratings run 0 to 30 percent based on measured flexion, with a 10 percent floor for a painful knee under the painful-motion rule.
Rated up to 30%
Degenerative Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Wear-and-tear arthritis confirmed by X-ray. VA rates it through the motion limits of each affected joint, with a 10 percent floor for a painful arthritic joint even when motion is nearly normal.
Rated up to 20%
Cervical Strain (Neck Strain)
Chronic strain of the neck muscles and ligaments. VA rates it on how far you can move your neck under the same spine formula used for the low back, with neck-specific degree thresholds.
Rated up to 100%
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Wear-and-tear breakdown of the spinal discs and joints, in the low back or neck. VA rates it on measured spinal motion under the same formula used for back and neck strain.
Rated up to 100%
Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of the tissue band supporting the arch, causing heel and arch pain. VA gave it its own diagnostic code in 2021, rated 10 to 30 percent based mainly on whether treatment provides relief.
Rated up to 40%
Disclaimer: Valor Rating is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Always review your documents carefully before submitting to the VA. For official guidance, consult an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.