Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5002
Rheumatoid Arthritis Secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal
A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Rheumatoid Arthritis when it develops after Arthritis, Gonococcal.
Why Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Linked to Arthritis, Gonococcal
Damage from untreated flares
Primary condition · VASRD 5004
Arthritis, Gonococcal
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.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5002
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, swelling and progressive joint damage, along with systemic effects such as fatigue, weight loss and anemia. VA rates it under DC 5002, which the schedule titles "Multi-joint arthritis (except post-traumatic and gout), 2 or more joints, as an active process" and whose Note (1) names rheumatoid arthritis as an example of what the code covers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Rheumatoid Arthritis the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal — severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis itself determines the percentage.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active disease 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 |
Example combined rating
40% Arthritis, Gonococcal + 40% Rheumatoid Arthritis = 64%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 40% and 40% combine to 64%, not 80%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
Email me this Rheumatoid Arthritis secondary guide
Get the rating criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis, the evidence a secondary claim needs, and why it is linked to Arthritis, Gonococcal — delivered to your inbox.
Evidence for a Rheumatoid Arthritis Secondary Claim
- •A rheumatologist's diagnosis with the supporting serology (rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP) and inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP), which establish that this is an active inflammatory process rather than degenerative arthritis.
- •Joint examination findings that record swelling, effusion and active synovitis, not pain alone.
- •A dated record of incapacitating exacerbations across the year — the 40 and 60 percent criteria are counted thresholds (3 or more, and 4 or more, times a year).
- •Weight and hemoglobin trends over time, because the 60 percent criterion turns on weight loss and anemia "productive of severe impairment of health".
- •Range-of-motion measurements for each damaged joint, which is what Note (2) rates once the disease is no longer active.
Common questions about Rheumatoid Arthritis secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal
- Can Rheumatoid Arthritis be service-connected as secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal?
- Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Damage from untreated flares You'll need a current Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Arthritis, Gonoc…
- What VA rating can I get for Rheumatoid Arthritis as a secondary condition?
- Rheumatoid Arthritis is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5002 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 100%, 60%, 40%, 20%. The rating depends on the severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis itself, not on the severity of Arthritis, Gonococcal.
- How does a secondary Rheumatoid Arthritis claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 40% rating for Arthritis, Gonococcal combined with a 40% rating for Rheumatoid Arthritis (example figures) produces a combined rating of 64%, not 80%. Approving Rheumatoid Arthritis as secondary still typically raises you…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Rheumatoid Arthritis as secondary to Arthritis, Gonococcal?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis includes: A rheumatologist's diagnosis with the supporting serology (rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP) and inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP), which establish that this is an active inflammatory process rather than degenerative arthritis.; Joint examination fin…
Primary condition
Full Arthritis, Gonococcal guide
Secondary condition
Full Rheumatoid Arthritis guide
Estimate your combined rating
See how Arthritis, Gonococcal and Rheumatoid Arthritis combine with the rest of your service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.
Open the calculator
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline