Arthritis is one of the most prevalent service-connected disabilities among veterans. Many veterans who served in the military developed arthritis as a result of the physical demands of military service, occupational exposure during service, or combat-related trauma. Veterans with arthritis experience chronic pain, reduced mobility, and functional limitations that significantly impact the veterans’ ability to work and maintain quality of life. Yet many veterans don’t realize they can file for VA disability benefits for arthritis or don’t understand how the VA rates arthritis disabilities. This comprehensive article explains how veterans develop service-connected arthritis, how veterans can establish service connection for arthritis, what disability ratings veterans with arthritis receive, and how veterans can maximize compensation for arthritis disabilities.

Why Veterans Develop Arthritis

Veterans develop arthritis through multiple pathways during military service. The physical demands of military training create significant stress on veterans’ joints. Basic training involves running, jumping, and load-bearing exercises that strain veterans’ knees, ankles, hips, and spine. Throughout a veteran’s military career, the repetitive physical demands continue stressing the veteran’s joints.

Many veterans carried heavy loads during service. A veteran in a combat support role might carry 60-100 pound loads on long marches. These repetitive heavy loads accelerate joint wear in veterans, leading to early-onset arthritis in veterans’ knees, hips, and lower back.

Additionally, specific incidents during a veteran’s military service can cause traumatic joint injury leading to post-traumatic arthritis in veterans. A veteran injured in a combat incident, vehicle accident, or fall during service may develop arthritis in the injured joint years later.

Environmental factors during a veteran’s service also contribute to arthritis development in veterans. Veterans stationed in cold, wet climates experienced conditions exacerbating arthritis symptoms in veterans. Veterans exposed to certain chemicals during military service may have accelerated joint damage.

Types of Arthritis Affecting Veterans

Veterans experience various forms of arthritis that qualify for disability benefits:

Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis in veterans. Osteoarthritis develops in veterans when the protective cartilage in veterans’ joints wears away. In veterans, service-related joint stress accelerates osteoarthritis development. Veterans with osteoarthritis experience pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion—symptoms directly affecting veterans’ ability to work.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Some veterans develop rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition affecting veterans’ joints. While not exclusively caused by military service, veterans who developed rheumatoid arthritis during or shortly after service may establish service connection through presumptive provisions or medical evidence.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis: Veterans who sustained joint injuries during military service often develop post-traumatic arthritis in veterans’ injured joints. A veteran with a knee injury during combat may develop arthritis in that knee, qualifying veterans for disability benefits.

Ankylosing Spondylitis: This inflammatory arthritis affects veterans’ spine, causing fusion of vertebrae and severe limitation of spinal motion in affected veterans. Veterans with ankylosing spondylitis experience significant functional impairment.

Service Connection for Arthritis in Veterans

Veterans can establish service connection for arthritis disabilities through several pathways:

Direct Service Connection: Veterans can establish direct service connection by showing that arthritis resulted from a specific incident or occupational exposure during a veteran’s military service. For example, a veteran injured in a combat incident who develops post-traumatic arthritis in the injured joint can file a claim linking the veteran’s arthritis to the service-related injury.

Presumptive Service Connection: Veterans with specific types of arthritis may qualify for presumptive service connection. For example, veterans exposed to Agent Orange have presumptive conditions including various health problems, and veterans may qualify for certain arthritis-related benefits through presumptive status.

Secondary Service Connection: Veterans often develop arthritis secondary to other service-connected conditions. A veteran with service-connected PTSD might develop arthritis in veterans’ knees from altered gait and movement patterns caused by the veteran’s PTSD. This secondary arthritis in veterans qualifies for disability benefits.

How the VA Rates Arthritis in Veterans

The VA rates arthritis in veterans based on specific clinical findings and functional limitations affecting the veteran. The VA considers several factors when rating arthritis in veterans:

Range of Motion: The VA examines a veteran’s joint range of motion. Veterans with severely limited range of motion receive higher ratings. A veteran with a knee that can only bend 20 degrees receives a higher rating than a veteran whose knee bends 90 degrees.

Pain and Symptoms: The VA considers the severity of pain and other symptoms affecting the veteran. Medical records documenting a veteran’s pain levels support higher ratings for arthritis in veterans.

Functional Limitations: The VA evaluates how arthritis affects a veteran’s ability to walk, stand, climb, bend, and perform occupational tasks. Veterans whose arthritis significantly limits functional capacity receive higher ratings.

Imaging Findings: X-rays, MRI, and other imaging showing arthritis severity in veterans support disability ratings. Advanced arthritis with bone-on-bone changes visible on imaging warrants higher ratings for veterans.

Medical Treatment: Ongoing treatment for arthritis in veterans, including medication management and physical therapy, documents the veteran’s condition and functional impact.

VA Disability Ratings for Veterans with Arthritis

The VA rates arthritis in veterans using specific rating schedules. Most arthritis in veterans receives ratings between 0% and 50%, though severe cases may receive higher ratings.

0-10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have mild arthritis causing minimal symptoms and functional impairment. The veteran may have occasional joint pain but it doesn’t substantially limit the veteran’s work or daily activities.

20% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 20% for arthritis have mild to moderate joint pain and limited range of motion. The veteran’s arthritis noticeably affects the veteran’s functional capacity but the veteran can still perform most occupational duties.

30% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have moderate arthritis with significant pain and functional limitation. The veteran’s arthritis affects the veteran’s ability to perform certain occupational tasks and the veteran experiences noticeable limitation in activities.

40% Rating for Veterans: Veterans with a 40% rating for arthritis have substantial joint pain and significant limitation of range of motion. The veteran’s arthritis substantially affects the veteran’s occupational capacity and the veteran has difficulty with activities requiring joint mobility.

50% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 50% for arthritis have severe joint disease with marked limitation of joint motion. The veteran’s arthritis substantially limits the veteran’s employment capacity and the veteran experiences severe functional impairment.

Higher Ratings for Veterans: Veterans with extremely severe arthritis affecting multiple joints may receive ratings above 50%. Veterans with severe ankylosing spondylitis or other debilitating arthritis forms may receive higher ratings.

Filing an Arthritis Disability Claim for Veterans

To file a VA disability claim for arthritis, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating arthritis as the claimed condition.

Veterans filing for arthritis should include:

• Medical records documenting the veteran’s arthritis diagnosis
• X-rays, MRI, or other imaging showing arthritis in the veteran’s joints
• Information about when the veteran’s arthritis began and how it developed
• Documentation of the veteran’s functional limitations caused by the veteran’s arthritis
• Records of treatment received by the veteran for the veteran’s arthritis condition
• A personal statement from the veteran describing how the veteran’s arthritis affects the veteran’s daily functioning and work

Veterans should clearly explain to the VA how the veteran believes the veteran’s arthritis is service-connected—whether from a specific injury during the veteran’s service, cumulative stress during a veteran’s military career, or as secondary to another service-connected condition affecting the veteran.

The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with Arthritis

When veterans file for arthritis disability benefits, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:

• Perform a thorough joint examination on the veteran, testing the veteran’s range of motion
• Review imaging studies and medical records for the veteran’s arthritis
• Assess the severity of pain and symptoms affecting the veteran
• Ask the veteran detailed questions about the veteran’s functional limitations
• Document the veteran’s occupational and social functioning impacted by the veteran’s arthritis

Veterans should prepare thoroughly for the veteran’s C&P exam. Veterans should wear clothing allowing easy access to joints being examined. Veterans should be prepared to move and demonstrate functional limitations. Veterans should honestly describe their pain and limitations—exaggerating symptoms can result in lower credibility ratings for veterans’ claims.

Secondary Arthritis Conditions in Veterans

Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their arthritis. For example:

• A veteran with service-connected knee arthritis may develop depression from chronic pain and activity limitations
• A veteran with severe arthritis may develop sleep disorders from pain-related sleep disruption
• A veteran with hip or knee arthritis may develop gait disturbances and back problems

These secondary conditions in veterans increase the veteran’s combined disability rating, potentially resulting in significantly higher monthly compensation for the veteran.

Arthritis Rating Increases for Veterans

Veterans whose arthritis worsens over time should file for rating increases. Many veterans experience progressive arthritis as they age, warranting higher disability ratings.

When filing for an arthritis rating increase, veterans should submit:

• Recent imaging studies showing progression of the veteran’s arthritis
• Updated medical records documenting the veteran’s worsening symptoms
• A personal statement from the veteran describing how the veteran’s functional capacity has declined
• Medical provider statements confirming the veteran’s arthritis has progressed

Veterans should file for rating increases promptly when the veteran’s arthritis worsens. The effective date of a rating increase is typically the filing date, so filing early means the veteran receives back pay covering the period from filing through approval.

Understanding Your Arthritis Disability Compensation

Veterans with arthritis combined with other service-connected disabilities should understand their total combined rating. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to:

• Determine how arthritis ratings combine with your other disabilities
• See your projected monthly compensation for your arthritis disability
• Model how an arthritis rating increase would affect your total rating
• Plan which rating increases would most significantly increase your combined rating

The disability calculator helps veterans understand their total compensation when multiple service-connected conditions affect the veteran.

Treatment and Management for Veterans with Arthritis

Veterans with service-connected arthritis should establish regular care with VA healthcare providers. The VA offers veterans:

• Joint examinations and diagnostic imaging for arthritis in veterans
• Medication management for pain and inflammation affecting veterans
• Physical therapy to help veterans maintain joint mobility
• Occupational therapy helping veterans adapt to functional limitations
• Joint replacement surgery when medically appropriate for veterans

Veterans should maintain regular VA care to document the veteran’s arthritis condition and support disability rating decisions.

Combining Arthritis with Your Disability Rating

Many veterans have arthritis combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 40% rating for arthritis and a 30% rating for back pain. These conditions combine using the VA’s combined rating formula to determine the veteran’s total disability rating.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to see exactly how your arthritis disability combines with other service-connected conditions affecting you. The calculator shows veterans the precise combined rating and monthly compensation based on individual disability ratings.

Occupational Considerations for Veterans with Arthritis

The VA recognizes that significant arthritis substantially affects veterans’ occupational capacity. Veterans whose arthritis prevents them from performing their previous occupation may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services or Individual Unemployability.

Veterans with arthritis affecting occupational capacity should consider filing for Individual Unemployability (IU) if they have sufficient disability ratings. IU provides 100% disability compensation based on occupational inability rather than rating percentage alone.

Conclusion

Arthritis is a common, service-connected disability affecting many veterans. Veterans who developed arthritis during military service or from occupational injuries sustained during a veteran’s service deserve compensation for this disabling condition. If you’re a veteran with arthritis, file a disability claim documenting your condition and functional limitations. Gather comprehensive medical evidence showing your arthritis and how it affects your ability to work. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand your combined rating and total monthly compensation when arthritis combines with other disabilities. As a veteran with arthritis, you deserve disability benefits reflecting your service-connected condition and the functional impairment affecting your veteran life. Pursue your arthritis disability claim and ensure you receive all compensation you’re entitled to as a veteran.