Inflammatory arthritis

Carpal tunnel syndrome - Inflammatory arthritis Factor

Definition

The RMA has defined this to mean one of the following diseases:

(i)         rheumatoid arthritis;

(ii)        systemic lupus erythematosus;

(iii)       systemic sclerosis (which includes circumscribed scleroderma and CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud’s, oesophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia));

(iv)       sicca syndrome (which includes keratoconjunctivitis sicca and Sjogren’s disease);

(v)        dermatomyositis;

(vi)       polymyositis;

(vii)      eosinophilia myalgia syndrome;

(viii)     eosinophilic fasciitis;

(ix)       multifocal fibrosclerosis;

(x)        systemic fibrosclerosing syndrome;

(xi)       unspecified diffuse connective tissue disease;

(xii)      chondrocalcinosis (also known as pseudogout);

(xiii)     arthropathy associated with Reiter’s disease and non-specific urethritis;

(xiv)     postdysenteric arthropathy;

(xv)      psoriatic arthropathy;

(xvi)     arthropathy associated with inflammatory bowel disease;

(xvii)    ankylosing spondylitis; or

(xviii)   other inflammatory arthritis requiring treatment with methotrexate or penicillamine or azathioprine or gold;

If a veteran or member suffered inflammatory arthritis, this normally would be recorded in doctors' notes and/or hospital records.  However, if these records cannot be obtained and there is a reliable history of inflammatory arthritis at a particular time, this generally will be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 21 FEBRUARY 2014.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [17103]

17517 there is some evidence that inflammatory arthritis may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

31914 the veteran has had inflammatory arthritis of the wrist or hand at some time.

17364 the inflammatory arthritis affected other relevant side and site of the body or wrist.

31917  inflammatory arthritis means one of the diseases listed in the Statements of Principles for carpal tunnel syndrome.

17366  the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and VEA service for carpal tunnel syndrome.

17373 the veteran suffered the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

17367   the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and VEA service for the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

17369  the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and operational service for the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

or

17370  the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and eligible service for the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

17374 the veteran suffered the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

17368   the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and VEA service for the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

17371  the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and operational service for the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

or

17372  the veteran has established the causal connection between inflammatory arthritis and eligible service for the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [17369]

17375  the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [17370]

17376  the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [17371]

17375  the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, is causally related to operational service.

17377 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [17372]

17376  the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, is causally related to eligible service.

17378 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, an inflammatory arthritis affecting other relevant side and site of the body or wrist, is causally related.