Condition
VA Nexus Letters for Back, Knee & Joint Conditions
Musculoskeletal claims for the spine, knees, hips, shoulders, and ankles.
Musculoskeletal claims are the most common VA disability claims and among the most commonly underrated. Repetitive load-bearing, rucking, jumps, and vehicle vibration create cumulative injury that often does not appear in service records as a single documented event.
What the VA requires
- A current diagnosis with imaging or clinical findings
- An in-service injury or cumulative occupational exposure
- A medical opinion linking the two
- Range-of-motion and functional loss documentation
How it is rated
The spine is rated under the General Rating Formula (38 CFR 4.71a) based on range of motion, muscle spasm, and incapacitating episodes. Joints are rated on limitation of motion, instability, and painful motion under DeLuca considerations.
How we help
- Opinions connecting cumulative service demands to current degeneration
- Secondary opinions for altered gait affecting the opposite knee, hip, or back
- Documentation of functional loss during flare-ups
Commonly claimed as secondary
- Radiculopathy
- Opposite-side joint strain
- Depression
- Sleep disturbance
Find out which of your conditions a medical opinion can support.
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