Arthritis DBQ question

[jvan]

Greetings all,

Wondering if anyone can assist with a arthritis DBQ question while going through MEB process (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for unfitting conditions). All of my C&P exams have been completed as of last week. Yesterday I was able to download the DBQ's from the Tricare Portal. My question is if anyone has any knowledge on how the VA will likely rate the arthritis off of the DBQ. My DBQ (insert) has spine, both wrists, hands/fingers, knees, ankles and feet/toes. It also has multi-joint arthritis as an active process checked for the diagnosis. If the VA rates the active process I will likely only receive 20% for well established diagnosis and one or two exacerbations a year. If the VA rates it for joint residual rating (for pain or ROM) it could be 10% x 11 with some bilateral rating in. I know the VA is supposed to assign the higher rating but DBQ's were not completed for all of the the joints that were checked in the insert below. The DBQ specifically states, "Note: If joint involvement (e.g., pain, limitation of motion, joint deformity) is present, complete the appropriate questionnaire for each identified joint. Also complete the appropriate questionnaire for each affected body system, if indicated." So the magic question, do I complete a VA Form 4138 Statement in Support of a Claim and request they all get rated? Or do I wait for ratings before kicking the beehive? Any insight on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[Provis]

Greetings all,

Wondering if anyone can assist with a arthritis DBQ question while going through MEB process (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for unfitting conditions). All of my C&P exams have been completed as of last week. Yesterday I was able to download the DBQ's from the Tricare Portal. My question is if anyone has any knowledge on how the VA will likely rate the arthritis off of the DBQ. My DBQ (insert) has spine, both wrists, hands/fingers, knees, ankles and feet/toes. It also has multi-joint arthritis as an active process checked for the diagnosis. If the VA rates the active process I will likely only receive 20% for well established diagnosis and one or two exacerbations a year. If the VA rates it for joint residual rating (for pain or ROM) it could be 10% x 11 with some bilateral rating in. I know the VA is supposed to assign the higher rating but DBQ's were not completed for all of the the joints that were checked in the insert below. The DBQ specifically states, "Note: If joint involvement (e.g., pain, limitation of motion, joint deformity) is present, complete the appropriate questionnaire for each identified joint. Also complete the appropriate questionnaire for each affected body system, if indicated." So the magic question, do I complete a VA Form 4138 Statement in Support of a Claim and request they all get rated? Or do I wait for ratings before kicking the beehive? Any insight on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

I suggest you contacting QTC and ask them to redo the exam since the exam wasn't done properly. If that doesn't pan out then yes upload VA Form 4138 to support your claim that it needs to be addressed. That may move the needle. Don't wait until you get the rating to fight it with a VARR. If you do that you only have one chance. I would rather try to get it corrected before hand knowing you still can do a VARR later down the road.

 

[jvan]

Thank you Provis!

I suggest you contacting QTC and ask them to redo the exam since the exam wasn't done properly. If that doesn't pan out then yes upload VA Form 4138 to support your claim that it needs to be addressed. That may move the needle. Don't wait until you get the rating to fight it with a VARR. If you do that you only have one chance. I would rather try to get it corrected before hand knowing you still can do a VARR later down the road.

 

[JCWOMACK1]

I just stumbled not this thread. Similar situation here, being referred to MEB/PEB for Psoriatic Arthritis and Humira injections. What was the outcome of you ratings for DOD/VA?