VASRD 5004 · Infectious Disease
Arthritis, Gonococcal VA Disability Rating
Gonococcal arthritis — the schedule calls it "Arthritis, gonorrheal" — is joint inflammation caused by disseminated Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, most often striking a single large joint with severe pain, swelling and fever. VA rates it under DC 5004, which has no percentage criteria of its own: the active infection is rated under DC 5002 and anything left behind afterwards is rated under DC 5003.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active infection with whole-body effects that leaves you totally incapacitated |
| 60% | Weight loss and anemia, or severe flares at least four times a year |
| 40% | Definite health impairment on exam, or three or more incapacitating flares a year |
| 20% | One or two flares a year with the diagnosis already established |
| 10% | Per joint after the infection settles, when motion is limited but not enough to rate on its own |
How the VA Evaluates Arthritis, Gonococcal
DC 5004 ("Arthritis, gonorrheal") prints no percentages. Its rating rule is DC 5009 Note (2): "With the types of arthritis, diagnostic codes 5004 through 5009, rate the acute phase under diagnostic code 5002; rate any chronic residuals under diagnostic code 5003." So while the infection is an active process the four DC 5002 percentages apply, and they turn on constitutional health and the counted frequency of incapacitating exacerbations. Once it is no longer active, the residual joint damage is rated under DC 5003 — on limitation of motion under the affected joint's own diagnostic code, or at 10 percent per major joint or minor joint group where that limitation of motion is objectively confirmed but noncompensable. DC 5002 Note (3) decides between the two paths: the active-process rating "will not be combined with the residual ratings for limitation of motion, ankylosis, or diagnostic code 5003. Instead, assign the higher evaluation." Note that DC 5003's Note (2) exclusion does not reach DC 5004 — that exclusion covers only DCs 5013 to 5024 — so the X-ray-based 20 and 10 percent rows remain available here for chronic residuals with no limitation of motion.
Approval outlook
Low (~20%) unless clearly service-connected.
Veterans service-connected
~950 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~40%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •Service or post-service records documenting the disseminated gonococcal infection and the joint it settled in — culture, synovial fluid analysis, or the treating clinician's diagnosis.
- •Joint examination findings from the active phase recording effusion, swelling and fever, which is what DC 5002's criteria are written around.
- •A dated record of incapacitating exacerbations, since the 40 and 60 percent criteria are counted thresholds (3 or more, and 4 or more, times a year).
- •Range-of-motion measurements for the affected joint after the infection resolved — chronic residuals are rated on limitation of motion under DC 5003, not on infection history.
Strategy Tips
- •Include an infectious disease report confirming the original gonorrhea infection, since this is what distinguishes this diagnosis from other arthritis types.
- •Log each flare-up with dates, and explain the impact on mobility and work, since exacerbation frequency and functional impact both factor into the rating.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •The condition being mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis rather than correctly identified as infection-related.
- •No infection records to confirm the underlying cause.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •No infection proof to establish the diagnosis.
- •No ongoing joint treatment documented to show the condition's continuing impact.
Onset Patterns
- •This condition typically occurs shortly after the initial gonorrhea infection and can become a chronic joint problem if not fully treated.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Arthritis, Gonococcal. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common questions about Arthritis, Gonococcal
- Is Arthritis, Gonococcal a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Arthritis, Gonococcal under VASRD diagnostic code 5004 (Infectious Disease). Gonococcal arthritis — the schedule calls it "Arthritis, gonorrheal" — is joint inflammation caused by disseminated Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, most often striking a single large joint with severe pain, swelling and fev…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Arthritis, Gonococcal?
- Possible VA ratings for Arthritis, Gonococcal are 100%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%. Examples: 100%: Active infection with whole-body effects that leaves you totally incapacitated; 60%: Weight loss and anemia, or severe flares at least four times a year; 40%: Definite health impairment on exam, or three or more incapacitating…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Arthritis, Gonococcal?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Arthritis, Gonococcal at around 40%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 950 veterans are service-connected for Arthritis, Gonococcal. Estimated approval outlook: Low (~20%) unless clearly service-connected.
- What evidence helps prove Arthritis, Gonococcal for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Arthritis, Gonococcal claim includes: Service or post-service records documenting the disseminated gonococcal infection and the joint it settled in — culture, synovial fluid analysis, or the treating clinician's diagnosis.; Joint examination findings from the active phase recording effusion, swel…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Arthritis, Gonococcal?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Arthritis, Gonococcal: No infection proof to establish the diagnosis.; No ongoing joint treatment documented to show the condition's continuing impact..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal include: Chronic Joint Pain, Joint Deformity. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a — Schedule of ratings — musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5004)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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