VA Disability — Musculoskeletal
VA disability ratings and claim guides for musculoskeletal conditions — including back pain, knee injuries, shoulder conditions, arthritis, amputations, and all joint and muscle disorders rated under 38 CFR Part 4.
The musculoskeletal system encompasses every bone, joint, muscle, tendon, and ligament in the body — and military service tests all of them to the limit. From the cumulative wear of ruck marches and physical training to acute injuries from combat and vehicle accidents, veterans face musculoskeletal damage at rates far exceeding civilian populations. The VA rates these conditions primarily through range-of-motion measurements at Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams, with higher ratings awarded for more limited motion, instability, or complete immobility. Musculoskeletal conditions are consistently among the most claimed VA disabilities — knee and back conditions alone represent millions of active ratings.
Low Back Pain (Lumbosacral Strain)
DC 5237
Limitation of Flexion of the Knee
DC 5260
Limitation of Motion of the Arm
DC 5201
Cervical Strain (Neck Pain)
DC 5237
Knee Instability
DC 5257
Limitation of Motion of the Shoulder
DC 5201
Plantar Fasciitis / Pes Planus
DC 5276
Degenerative Disc Disease
DC 5243
Limitation of Motion of the Hip
DC 5252
Limitation of Motion of the Ankle
DC 5271
Rotator Cuff Injury / Tear
DC 5201
Degenerative Arthritis
DC 5003
Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS)
DC 5243
Patellofemoral Syndrome
DC 5260
Foot Condition / Hallux Valgus
DC 5280
Limitation of Motion of the Elbow
DC 5206
Limitation of Motion of the Wrist
DC 5215
Fibromyalgia
DC 5025
Rheumatoid Arthritis
DC 5002
Gout
DC 5015
Osteomyelitis, acute, subacute, or chronic
DC 5000
Bones and Joints, tuberculosis
DC 5001
Multi-joint arthritis (except post-traumatic and gout), 2 or more joints, as an active process
DC 5002
Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic
DC 5003
Arthritis, gonorrheal
DC 5004
Arthritis, pneumococcic
DC 5005
Arthritis, typhoid
DC 5006
Arthritis, syphilitic
DC 5007
Arthritis, streptococcic
DC 5008
Other specified forms of arthropathy (excluding gout)
DC 5009
Post-traumatic arthritis
DC 5010
Decompression illness
DC 5011
Bones, neoplasm, malignant, primary or secondary
DC 5012
Osteoporosis, residuals of
DC 5013
Osteomalacia, residuals of
DC 5014
Bones, neoplasm, benign
DC 5015
Osteitis deformans
DC 5016
Bursitis
DC 5019
Myositis
DC 5021
Heterotopic ossification
DC 5023
Tenosynovitis, tendinitis, tendinosis or tendinopathy
DC 5024
Shoulder replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5051
Elbow replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5052
Wrist replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5053
Hip, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5054
Knee, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5055
Ankle replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5056
Anatomical loss of one hand and loss of use of one foot
DC 5104
Anatomical loss of one foot and loss of use of one hand
DC 5105
Anatomical loss of both hands
DC 5106
Anatomical loss of both feet
DC 5107
Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot
DC 5108
Loss of use of both hands
DC 5109
Loss of use of both feet
DC 5110
Loss of use of one hand and one foot
DC 5111
Complete amputation, upper extremity
DC 5120
Above insertion of deltoid
DC 5121
Below insertion of deltoid
DC 5122
Above insertion of pronator teres
DC 5123
Below insertion of pronator teres
DC 5124
Hand, loss of use of
DC 5125
Five digits of one hand
DC 5126
Thumb, index, long and ring
DC 5127
Thumb, index, long and little
DC 5128
Thumb, index, ring and little
DC 5129
Thumb, long, ring and little
DC 5130
Index, long, ring and little
DC 5131
Thumb, index and long
DC 5132
Thumb, index and ring
DC 5133
Thumb, index and little
DC 5134
Thumb, long and ring
DC 5135
Thumb, long and little
DC 5136
Thumb, ring and little
DC 5137
Index, long and ring
DC 5138
Index, long and little
DC 5139
Index, ring and little
DC 5140
Long, ring and little
DC 5141
Thumb and index
DC 5142
Thumb and long
DC 5143
Thumb and ring
DC 5144
Thumb and little
DC 5145
Index and long
DC 5146
Index and ring
DC 5147
Index and little
DC 5148
Long and ring
DC 5149
Long and little
DC 5150
Ring and little
DC 5151
Thumb
DC 5152
Index finger
DC 5153
Long finger
DC 5154
Ring finger
DC 5155
Little finger
DC 5156
Complete amputation, lower extremity
DC 5160
Upper third
DC 5161
Middle or lower thirds
DC 5162
With defective stump
DC 5163
Not improvable by prosthesis controlled by natural knee action
DC 5164
At a lower level, permitting prosthesis
DC 5165
Forefoot, proximal to metatarsal bones
DC 5166
Foot, loss of use of
DC 5167
Toes, all, amputation of, without metatarsal loss or transmetatarsal, amputation of, with up to half of metatarsal loss
DC 5170
Toe, great
DC 5171
Toes, other than great, with removal of metatarsal head
DC 5172
Toes, three or more, without metatarsal involvement
DC 5173
Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis
DC 5200
Arm, limitation of motion
DC 5201
Humerus, other impairment
DC 5202
Clavicle or scapula, impairment
DC 5203
Elbow, ankylosis
DC 5205
Forearm, limitation of flexion
DC 5206
Forearm, limitation of extension
DC 5207
Forearm, flexion limited
DC 5208
Elbow, other impairment
DC 5209
Radius and ulna, nonunion
DC 5210
Ulna, impairment
DC 5211
Radius, impairment
DC 5212
Supination and pronation, impairment
DC 5213
Wrist, ankylosis
DC 5214
Five digits of one hand
DC 5216
Four digits of one hand
DC 5217
Three digits of one hand
DC 5218
Two digits of one hand
DC 5219
Five digits of one hand
DC 5220
Four digits of one hand
DC 5221
Three digits of one hand
DC 5222
Two digits of one hand
DC 5223
Thumb
DC 5224
Index finger
DC 5225
Long finger
DC 5226
Ring or little finger
DC 5227
Thumb
DC 5228
Index or long finger
DC 5229
Ring or little finger
DC 5230
Vertebral fracture or dislocation
DC 5235
Sacroiliac injury and weakness
DC 5236
Lumbosacral or cervical strain
DC 5237
Spinal stenosis
DC 5238
Spondylolisthesis or segmental instability
DC 5239
Ankylosing spondylitis
DC 5240
Spinal fusion
DC 5241
Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5
DC 5242
Traumatic paralysis, complete
DC 5244
Hip, ankylosis
DC 5250
Thigh, limitation of extension
DC 5251
Thigh, limitation of flexion
DC 5252
Thigh, impairment
DC 5253
Hip, flail joint
DC 5254
Femur, impairment
DC 5255
Knee, ankylosis
DC 5256
Knee, other impairment
DC 5257
Cartilage, semilunar, dislocated
DC 5258
Cartilage, semilunar, removal
DC 5259
Leg, limitation of flexion
DC 5260
Leg, limitation of extension
DC 5261
Tibia and fibula, impairment
DC 5262
Genu recurvatum
DC 5263
Ankle, ankylosis
DC 5270
Ankle, limited motion
DC 5271
Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis
DC 5272
Os calcis or astragalus, malunion
DC 5273
Astragalectomy
DC 5274
Bones, of the lower extremity
DC 5275
Flatfoot, acquired
DC 5276
Weak foot, bilateral
DC 5277
Claw foot (pes cavus), acquired
DC 5278
Metatarsalgia, anterior (Morton's disease)
DC 5279
Hallux valgus
DC 5280
Hallux rigidus
DC 5281
Hammer toe
DC 5282
Tarsal or metatarsal bones
DC 5283
Foot injuries, other
DC 5284
Loss of part of foot
DC 5296
Removal of Ribs
DC 5297
Removal of Coccyx
DC 5298
Group I Function: Upward rotation of scapula
DC 5301
Group II Function: Depression of arm
DC 5302
Group III Function: Elevation and abduction of arm
DC 5303
Group IV Function: Stabilization of shoulder
DC 5304
Group V Function: Elbow supination
DC 5305
Group VI Function: Extension of elbow
DC 5306
Group VII Function: Flexion of wrist and fingers
DC 5307
Group VIII Function: Extension of wrist, fingers, thumb
DC 5308
Group IX Function: Forearm muscles
DC 5309
Group X Function: Movement of forefoot and toes
DC 5310
Group XI Function: Propulsion of foot
DC 5311
Group XII Function: Dorsiflexion
DC 5312
Group XIII Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee
DC 5313
Group XIV Function: Extension of knee
DC 5314
Group XV Function: Adduction of hip
DC 5315
Group XVI Function: Flexion of hip
DC 5316
Group XVII Function: Extension of hip
DC 5317
Group XVIII Function: Outward rotation of thigh
DC 5318
Group XIX Function: Abdominal wall and lower thorax
DC 5319
Group XX Function: Postural support of body
DC 5320
Group XXI Function: Respiration
DC 5321
Group XXII Function: Rotary and forward movements, head
DC 5322
Group XXIII Function: Movements of head
DC 5323
Diaphragm, rupture
DC 5324
Muscle injury, facial muscles
DC 5325
Muscle hernia
DC 5326
Muscle, neoplasm of, malignant
DC 5327
Muscle, neoplasm of, benign
DC 5328
Sarcoma, soft tissue
DC 5329
Rhabdomyolysis, residuals of
DC 5330
Compartment syndrome
DC 5331
Musculoskeletal next step
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