★ Rating percentages & 2026 pay
VA Rating for Rheumatoid Arthritis
38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5002
Every percentage, and what it pays in 2026
| Rating | 2026 monthly | What that level generally requires |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $357/mo | One or two exacerbations per year in a well-established diagnosis. |
| 40% | $796/mo | Symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health, or incapacitating exacerbations 3+ times per year. |
| 60% | $1,435/mo | Less than the criteria for 100% but with weight loss/anemia productive of severe impairment, or incapacitating exacerbations 4+ times per year. |
| 100% | $3,939/mo | Constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement, totally incapacitating. |
Criteria paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5002. Rates are the published 2026 schedule (effective December 1, 2025, 2.8% COLA) and are shown for reference only — they are not an estimate of what any individual claim will pay. 10% and 20% pay a flat amount with no dependent increase.
What it adds to your existing rating
Combine it with your current rating
VA does not add ratings together — it combines them on a "whole person" basis under 38 CFR § 4.25, then rounds to the nearest 10.
Illustrative math on the published 2026 rate schedule for a veteran with no dependents. It is not a prediction, an estimate of your claim, or a statement that any rating is achievable.
Why a rating lands lower than the records suggest
- The exam captured a good day. Ratings are built from what the C&P examiner recorded. If flare-ups, fatigue, or repeated-use loss were not documented, they were not rated — 38 CFR § 4.40 and § 4.45 require them to be considered when they are in the record.
- The criteria were read as a checklist. Under 38 CFR § 4.7, when the disability picture more nearly approximates the higher level, the higher level applies. A partially-met tier is not automatically the lower tier.
- Secondary conditions were never claimed. A separately ratable secondary condition adds to the combined rating; it does not raise this diagnostic code's percentage.
- Pyramiding was applied too broadly. 38 CFR § 4.14 bars rating the same symptom twice — it does not bar rating distinct manifestations under different codes.
For the full evidence checklist, C&P exam detail, and secondary pathways, read the complete Rheumatoid Arthritis claim guide.
Common questions
What is the highest VA rating for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The schedular maximum under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5002 is 100%. A higher combined rating is possible when other service-connected conditions, secondary conditions, or an extraschedular or TDIU pathway apply, but those are separate determinations.
How much does a 100% rating pay in 2026?
$3,939 per month for a veteran with no dependents, under the rate schedule effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA). Ratings of 30% and above increase with dependents.
Can Rheumatoid Arthritis be rated at 0%?
Yes. VA can grant service connection and assign a noncompensable (0%) rating when the condition is established but the findings do not meet the criteria for a compensable level. A 0% rating still preserves the effective date and can be increased later if the condition worsens.
Can active and chronic ratings be combined?
No — VA assigns whichever evaluation results in the higher rating, not both.
Think your Rheumatoid Arthritis rating is too low?
Four fields. A VA-accredited claims agent reviews it and responds within 3–5 business days. No fee unless past-due benefits are awarded on an appeal.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.