Rheumatoid Arthritis

DC 5002Musculoskeletal38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5002

An autoimmune disease where your body's immune system attacks the lining of your joints, causing pain, swelling, and eventually joint damage. The VA rates rheumatoid arthritis based on how often you have attacks and how they affect your overall health.

Rating Levels

Your rheumatoid arthritis causes constitutional manifestations (fever, weight loss, severe fatigue) with active joint involvement that are totally incapacitating.

What the VA looks for

Constitutional manifestations (fever, weight loss, fatigue)
Active joint involvement in multiple joints
Totally incapacitating symptoms
Unable to perform activities of daily living

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not understanding that RA can be rated under the active disease process (DC 5002) OR by individual joint limitation — the VA should use whichever method produces the higher overall rating.
⚠Not documenting each flare-up with a medical visit — the rating depends on the number and severity of exacerbations per year.
⚠Not filing for secondary conditions — RA can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, anemia, cervical spine problems, and depression.
⚠Not keeping up with rheumatologist visits and lab work — the VA relies on objective markers like rheumatoid factor, ESR, and CRP levels to confirm active disease.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Non-Degenerative Arthritis (including Inflammatory, Autoimmune, Crystalline and Infectious Arthritis)

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…

Rating Levels

Your rheumatoid arthritis causes constitutional manifestations (fever, weight loss, severe fatigue) with active joint involvement that are totally incapacitating.

What the VA looks for

Constitutional manifestations (fever, weight loss, fatigue)
Active joint involvement in multiple joints
Totally incapacitating symptoms
Unable to perform activities of daily living

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not understanding that RA can be rated under the active disease process (DC 5002) OR by individual joint limitation — the VA should use whichever method produces the higher overall rating.

⚠Not documenting each flare-up with a medical visit — the rating depends on the number and severity of exacerbations per year.

⚠Not filing for secondary conditions — RA can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, anemia, cervical spine problems, and depression.

⚠Not keeping up with rheumatologist visits and lab work — the VA relies on objective markers like rheumatoid factor, ESR, and CRP levels to confirm active disease.