Rheumatoid Arthritis
DC 5002 §4.71a Autoimmune / Systemic ICD-10: M06.9 DirectPresumptive Chronic disease 1-year (§3.309)
Autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. Different from degenerative arthritis.
VA rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | With constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement, totally incapacitating |
| 60% | Less than criteria for 100% but with weight loss and anemia productive of severe impairment of health or severely incapacitating exacerbations occurring 4 or more times a year |
| 40% | Symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health objectively supported by examination findings or incapacitating exacerbations occurring 3 or more times a year |
| 20% | One or two exacerbations a year in a well-established diagnosis |
Filing this claim
If you have qualifying service for the Chronic disease 1-year (§3.309) presumption, you don't need a nexus letter — file as a primary claim with proof of qualifying service and your current diagnosis. Use the letter generators to draft your nexus letter and Statement in Support of Claim.
Step by step
- File an Intent to File (Form 21-0966) to lock your effective date.
- Confirm you have a current medical diagnosis in a medical record.
- Gather proof of qualifying service (DD-214, deployment records, etc.) — no nexus letter needed.
- Write a Statement in Support of Claim (21-4138).
- If applicable, gather buddy statements (21-10210).
- File the formal 21-526EZ.
Source: 38 CFR §4.71a. For exact regulatory language, consult eCFR Title 38. This is general education — for your specific case, consult a VA-accredited representative.