Osteitis deformans (Paget's disease of bone)

Because your rating depends on the joint or body part most affected, the evidence that helps most is evidence documenting how that specific area functions. Range-of-motion measurements from a VA or private examination are central — they show limitation of motion or ankylosis of the affected joint. If a joint has been surgically replaced or resurfaced, operative reports and hospital discharge records establish when the procedure occurred and which components were replaced, since those dates affect when the 100 percent rating period begins.

If crutches are part of your treatment after a joint replacement, medical records or a physician's statement confirming their permanent use could support special monthly compensation during the 100 percent rating period. Statements from you or people who know you describing how the affected bones or joints limit your movement, work, and daily activities help show the functional impact that examination findings may not fully capture.