{"id":6565,"date":"2025-01-01T07:02:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-01T14:02:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stoneroselaw.com\/veteranslaw\/?page_id=6565"},"modified":"2025-01-01T07:06:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T14:06:35","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-your-va-exam-joints","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stoneroselaw.com\/veteranslaw\/how-to-prepare-for-your-va-exam-joints\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for Your VA Exam: Joints"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Avoid These Common Mistakes in Your VA Joint Exam for Disability Ratings\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6JZULMsNep8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we\u2019re going to discuss your upcoming joint exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re going to cover shoulders, neck, back, knees, hips, and ankles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If it&#8217;s a joint, this is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting an accurate compensation and pension (C&amp;P) exam is vital to ensuring you receive an accurate rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pain Doesn\u2019t Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, the first thing you need to know about how all joints are rated is that the amount of pain you&#8217;re in doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether your pain is a 2\/10 or a 200\/10, pain only entitles you to the minimum compensable rating for the applicable diagnostic code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minimum compensable rating for most joints is 10%. Some minor joints can be zero. For shoulders, it&#8217;s usually about 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, pain is still important to mention; specifically, you should mention the limitations that pain causes you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it&#8217;s important to note that the VA does not rate joints based on pain level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So again, whether it&#8217;s a 2\/10 or a 200\/10, pain only gets you the minimum compensable rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don&#8217;t agree with that either, but unfortunately, I don&#8217;t write the rating schedule (at least not yet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, how are joints rated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limitation of Motion is Key<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joints are rated primarily based on the limitation of motion for that joint. If you have full range of motion and severe pain, that&#8217;s still a 10% rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if you have no range of motion and no pain, that would be a much higher rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s why range of motion testing is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for Your Joint-Related VA Exam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So here&#8217;s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Goniometer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First and foremost, make sure your examiner uses a goniometer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A goniometer looks like a protractor that we used in school. It&#8217;s used to objectively measure your joint\u2019s range of motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your examiner does not use one, <strong>contact your case manager or attorney immediately.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your examiner should test your range of motion in a few different ways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Active range of motion<\/strong>, meaning you are moving the joint yourself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passive range of motion<\/strong>, meaning the examiner is going to move that joint for you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Repetition<\/strong>, usually three repetitions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And lastly, the examiner will assess or estimate your <strong>range of motion during a flare-up<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Go to the Point of Limitation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, folks, there is a lot of bad advice about how to do these exams on the Internet right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One common myth is to just stop moving your joint as soon as it hurts, but that can lead to some very unsavory and unsatisfactory results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine if the examiner sees you sitting in a chair.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;re at 90 degrees, back straight, feet flat like we all learned at boot camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But then when you start the examination, you refuse to move past 60 degrees because you saw this advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your examiner might think you&#8217;re faking it, and they may not believe your description of your symptoms or your description of your flare-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of going to where it hurts, <strong>I tell my clients to go to where you have to stop.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See, the point of VA disability compensation is to compensate you for your loss of earnings potential due to your disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every single day, we work through and push through some degree or amount of pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But at what point in that range of motion will you always generally stop due to pain, even if you&#8217;re at work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s where you should be stopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, don&#8217;t push through the pain to the point of injury. Stop where you would normally stop due to pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just don&#8217;t necessarily stop at the first sign of pain if that&#8217;s not how you&#8217;re going to be every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Describe Flare-Ups in Detail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, talk to your examiner about your flare-ups, even if you do not have one at the time. Explain what causes them, what helps, and what symptoms you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Offer to demonstrate how your range of motion changes during a flare-up, and describe any factors like stiffness or swelling that cause a worsened disability. And you should also note how often you experience these flare-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, if the examiner asks you to push further and it causes pain, speak up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Something as simple as, \u201cIf I bend anymore, I&#8217;ll be in pain for days,\u201d or, \u201cPlease don&#8217;t push my shoulder that way. It&#8217;s going to hurt,\u201d can help the examiner realize that they&#8217;re messing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be Consistent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You also need to be consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your exam begins the second you pull into the parking lot and ends when you drive out of the parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, be mindful of your behavior both inside and outside the exam room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If they see you hopping, skipping, and tap dancing to and from your car, but your demeanor inside that exam room is much different, they will absolutely note that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To recap:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A goniometer is mandatory.<\/strong> Ensure your examiner uses a goniometer; if the examiner does not, <strong>notify your attorney or case manager immediately.<\/strong> If you came across this video and you&#8217;re not one of our clients yet, then let the VA know immediately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Go to the point of limitation.<\/strong> Stop where the pain is severe enough to make you stop, not just where you first feel a twinge of discomfort. For example, my back hurts constantly (it&#8217;s the joy of being an infantryman). If I stopped moving at the point of pain, I wouldn&#8217;t bend even a single inch forward. But there is a point where that pain markedly increases to the point where I don&#8217;t bend past that under any circumstances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Describe your flare-ups in detail<\/strong>. Explain how they limit your range of motion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>And be consistent<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, keep in mind that if you take any pain medication frequently, including Motrin, you may want to <strong>consult with your medical provider about the possibility of tapering off your pain meds<\/strong> to ensure you receive a fair evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m not telling you not to take your medication. I&#8217;m saying to talk to your doctor and make that determination in conjunction with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your physician says don&#8217;t stop, of course, don&#8217;t stop taking your meds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that&#8217;s it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s no magic formula for a perfect exam, but <strong>following these steps will help you get an accurate one.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have any other questions or concerns, don&#8217;t hesitate to reach out to us at (480) 498-8998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you&#8217;re not one of our clients yet but want some more information, feel free to give us a call. We&#8217;d love to talk to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, we\u2019re going to discuss your upcoming joint exam. We\u2019re going to cover shoulders, neck, back, knees, hips, and ankles. If it&#8217;s a joint, this is for you. Getting an accurate compensation and pension (C&amp;P) exam is vital to ensuring you receive an accurate rating. Pain Doesn\u2019t Matter Unfortunately, the first thing you&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stoneroselaw.com\/veteranslaw\/how-to-prepare-for-your-va-exam-joints\/\">read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6565","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"disable_sidebar":"","sm_custom_title":"","sm_custom_menu":false,"sm_disable_sidebar":false,"banner_title":"","banner_image":false,"banner_image_tablet":false,"banner_h1":"","turn_off_button":"","disable_banner_new":"","banner_extra_content":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Prepare for Your VA Exam: Joints | Stone Rose Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have questions about your upcoming VA exam about one 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