Diagnostic Code 5002 · 38 CFR §4.71a
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, causing chronic inflammation, swelling, pain, and eventually joint destruction. Unlike osteoarthritis which results from wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that can affect multiple joints simultaneously and may also impact your lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It often starts in the small joints of the hands and feet and can progress to larger joints. Veterans may develop rheumatoid arthritis during or shortly after service, and some research links it to environmental exposures and extreme physical stress.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | |
| 60% | |
| 40% | |
| 20% |
Rheumatology records confirming the diagnosis with blood work including rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies, Joint imaging showing erosive changes consistent with rheumatoid arthritis, Documentation of disease activity scores and flare frequency, Records of medications including disease-modifying drugs and biologics, Evidence of systemic involvement such as lung or heart complications if present