guide. the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. Some of the questions and conditions your examiner might ask and look at include: Keep in mind that the doctor will record everything you say, so be concise in your answers without saying anything that could work against you. learn more about the process here. AMA replaces the Legacy Appeals Process and provides a more streamlined approach for veterans. VA Disability Ratings for Shoulder and Arm Conditions These cookies do not store any personal information. Note.Need for aid attendance or permanently bedridden qualifies for subpar. will bring you to those results. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons, which connects the muscle to bone, and can be caused by repetitive movement over a long period of time. This refers to the forearms ability to turn the palm of the hand up or down. The Complete Guide to Getting a VA Rating for Nerve Damage Other researchstates non-battle service injuries traditionally rival battle-related injuries. When a condition develops in response to a primary service-related disability, the VA considers it a secondary service connection. Lets take a look at some of the different forearm and elbow injuries and their VA ratings. If you have questions for the Agency that issued the current document please contact the agency directly. This applies to either arm, both dominant or non-dominant. The bilateral factor takes 10 percent of that 28 percent, yielding 2.8, and adding that 2.8 to the 28 percent, which equals 30.8 percent. However, any repetitive activity that involves repeated contraction of the forearm muscles increases the risk. Veterans' Wrist Conditions: Ratings and Benefits | CCK Law 5000 Osteomyelitis, acute, subacute, or chronic: Of the pelvis, vertebrae, or extending into major joints, or with multiple localization or with long history of intractability and debility, anemia, amyloid liver changes, or other continuous constitutional symptoms, Frequent episodes, with constitutional symptoms, With definite involucrum or sequestrum, with or without discharging sinus, With discharging sinus or other evidence of active infection within the past 5 years, Inactive, following repeated episodes, without evidence of active infection in past 5 years. If an injury to the elbow or forearm requires intensive care, the VA will assign a 100% rating during these periods. Can veterans get VA benefits for tennis elbow? - Woods and Woods, LLC Additional symptoms: Limitation of flexion beyond 110 degrees. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. If a veterans arm has been amputated above this point, the VA assigns a rating of 80% for the dominant hand. You can get a VA rating for nerve damage for severe neuritis up to 70%, depending on the nerve affected. 5001 Bones and Joints, tuberculosis, active or inactive developer resources. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. A score of 100% means that a veteran is unable to work or care for themselves. Something like a limitedelbow range of motion can have a large impact onyour life and your ability to carry out daily activities. If so, the doctor or specialist will then need to write a letter thatshows medical nexus between your injury/disability and your time in service. On the Basic monthly rates table, find the amount for your disability rating and dependent status. It depends very specifically on what the doctors can see with your elbow. Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Tennis Elbow, Evidence for Tennis Elbow Claims and Appealing under the AMA system, Diagnostic Code 5206: Forearm with flexion limited, Diagnostic Code 5207: Forearm with extension limited, Special Rating for Bilateral Tennis Elbow, Contact Hill & Ponton for Help with Your Tennis Elbow VA Disability Claim, Grip an object such as a pen or using a doorknob. Symptoms such as excess motion and limited range of motion may also be rated under the above codes. 4.40, 4.45, 4.59, 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5201 (2010). Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 or existing codification. Often, pain, swelling, and discomfort will resolve by resting the affected area, applying ice and heat to the area, and taking over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen. The VA Rating Process for De Quervain's Tenosynovitis - Woods and Woods Typically, the greater limitation of extension (i.e., the harder it is to straighten the knee), the higher the disability rating will be. Regulation Y Already working with us? This is your basic monthly rate. Below is a complete list of VA disabilities for the musculoskeletal system, listed in order by Diagnostic Code (DC) from CFR Title 38, Part 4, the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Comments or questions about document content can not be answered by OFR staff. A separate drafting site between the fingertip(s) and the proximal transverse crease of the palm, with the finger(s) flexed to the extent possible, evaluate as unfavorable ankylosis, (iv) If only the metacarpophalangeal or proximal interphalangeal joint is ankylosed, and there is a gap of two inches (5.1 cm.) This web site is designed for the current versions of Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. Carpal Tunnel For example, you may have developed a lower back disability first and later, over compensated with your elbow and forearm, and developed tennis elbow because you did not bend at the knees and use your back when lifting heavy objects. These are determined by what range of motion is present. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Some issues, such ascarpal tunnel syndrome,are evaluated differently if they are nerve-related. But he believes his disabilities are more severe-entitling him to a higher rating. However, the combined ratings cannot add up to more than a 70% disability rating for the dominant hand. If you are living with the effects of an injury to the elbow or forearm, and need to get compensation, we can help. As a This video explains veterans disability claims for rheumatoid arthritis, which might be a better rating for pain in your elbows or wrists. Choosing an item from Enhanced content is provided to the user to provide additional context. There are 5 primary ways a veteran can prove Arthritis is service connected and get VA disability benefits: #1: Direct Service Connection for Degenerative Arthritis rated under DC 5003 with a rating of 10 percent or 20 percent. If you arent experiencing any of the above issues but suffer from forearm bone pain when you move your arm, the VA will award you a rating for this. Contact Us Worse than 40% but not quite 100% incapacitated, with weight loss and anemia due to the long term affects and incapacitated . Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 Search & Navigation Importantly, service connection for this condition may also be established on a secondary basis. You can track your veterans disability ratings claim online at the VA website in the meantime. (eg: contact the publishing agency. The pain and weakness described above may make it difficult to engage in activities such as: Again, this condition is an overuse and muscle strain injury. Even if your symptoms worsen temporarily, the VA will deny your request for disability compensation on the assumption they will eventually improve. This includes hospital stays and periods where an at-home nurse is required. If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, you may be wondering what your herniated disc VA disability rating will be. 1155, 5107 (b) (West 2002 & Supp. "Published Edition". Chronic Epicondylitis - Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines - Veterans Veteran orthopedic conditions can also involve bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. We help you navigate the VA channels, and fight on your behalf to make sure that you get the right rating for your impairment. Additional procedures used to treat elbow tendonitis include the following: Veterans may be susceptible to elbow tendonitis due to the variety of physical activities and labor-intensive occupational specialties that are required of them throughout service. * If bilateral, see 3.350(a)(3) of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation. Entitlement to disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for chronic lateral epicondylitis, right and left elbow The Veteran currently has 10 percent ratings for each elbow under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. 1 Entitled to special monthly compensation. Subscribe to: Changes in Title 38 :: Chapter I :: Part 4 :: Subpart B :: Subject group :: Section 4.73. With chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness. Learn more about the eCFR, its status, and the editorial process. A VA disability claim for an orthopedic condition is one involving your joints or muscles. 5025 Fibromyalgia (fibrositis, primary fibromyalgia syndrome). Take note that a veteran can receive more than one disability rating if multiple injuries, conditions, or disabilities are present. Only joints in these positions are considered to be in favorable position. These percentages produce a combined rating of 28 percent. This is because the VA recognizes that having impairment in both arms (or both legs) creates an added disability because you dont have the second spare arm or leg to fall back on. (e) Combinations of finger amputations at various levels, or finger amputations with ankylosis or limitation of motion of the fingers will be rated on the basis of the grade of disability; (f) Loss of use of the hand will be held to exist when no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump with a suitable prosthetic appliance. 5055 Knee, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis): With intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion rate by analogy to diagnostic codes 5256, 5261, or 5262. If your doctor has formally diagnosed elbow tendonitis in both elbows, the VA adds the two percentages it assigned you together and places an extra 10 percent on top of that for your final, higher rating. If you would like to comment on the current content, please use the 'Content Feedback' button below for instructions on contacting the issuing agency. 5217 Four digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of: 5218 Three digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of: Index, long, and ring; index, long, and little; or index, ring, and little fingers. We advocate for the disabled. 38 CFR 4.73 - Schedule of ratings - muscle injuries. site when drafting amendatory language for Federal regulations: For non-dominant arms, the rating is reduced to 50%. Tennis elbow, which doctors also refer to as elbow tendonitis or lateral epicondylitis, causes pain when you use the affected arm to complete ordinary movements. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. Nonunion in lower half, with false movement: 5213 Supination and pronation, impairment of: The hand fixed in supination or hyperpronation, The hand fixed near the middle of the arc or moderate pronation, Motion lost beyond last quarter of arc, the hand does not approach full pronation, Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation, Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm, (1) For the index, long, ring, and little fingers (digits II, III, IV, and V), zero degrees of flexion represents the fingers fully extended, making a straight line with the rest of the hand. 3 Entitled to special monthly compensation. Since that time, we have provided compassionate At metacarpophalangeal joint or through proximal phalanx, At distal joint or through distal phalanx, With metacarpal resection (more than one-half the bone lost), Without metacarpal resection, at proximal interphalangeal joint or proximal thereto, Through middle phalanx or at distal joint. The most typical cause of tennis elbow is repetitive motions of the arm and wrist. Severe; objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc. Ifthere is a military connection, the VA must assign you the minimum rating of 10% disability. Background and more details are available in the here. Quadriplegia: Rate separately under diagnostic codes 5109 and 5110 and combine evaluations in accordance with, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months, With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than 2 weeks during the past 12 months, Unfavorable, extremely unfavorable ankylosis, the foot not reaching ground, crutches necessitated, Favorable, in flexion at an angle between 20 and 40, and slight adduction or abduction, Limitation of abduction of, motion lost beyond 10, Limitation of adduction of, cannot cross legs, Limitation of rotation of, cannot toe-out more than 15, affected leg, With nonunion, with loose motion (spiral or oblique fracture), With nonunion, without loose motion, weight bearing preserved with aid of brace, Fracture of surgical neck of, with false joint. A separate drafting site This Firm is So Good at what they do! The VA ratings for elbow tendonitis are listed under the musculoskeletal system section of the Schedule of Ratings as diagnostic codes 5206, 5207, and 5208. Supination refers to when the hand is stuck facing upwards. 4.71a, Diagnostic Codes 5024 (2013). With an attorney you have the benefit of an attorney client relationship, so anything you say to your attorney is completely private, and undiscoverable by the VA. Medical evidence is crucial when submitting a claim to the VA. You need to have a current diagnosis and prove that your military service caused your primary or secondary service connected condition or made a pre-existing condition worse. Typically, tendonitis is awarded a 10% minimum rating. For certain stipulated conditions it is extended for longer. Title 38 was last amended 4/24/2023. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Specifically, the bilateral factor involves an additional 10 percent that is applied to the bilateral disabilities. The rating criteria for each is as follows: Diagnostic Code 5206 - Forearm, Limitation of Flexion 50/40% - flexion limited to 45 degrees Evaluate functional impairment as seventh (facial) cranial nerve neuropathy (diagnostic code 8207), disfiguring scar (diagnostic code 7800), etc. For example, if you are wondering what thetennis elbow VA disability rating is, it would probably fall under this. Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. Comments or questions about document content can not be answered by OFR staff. the hierarchy of the document. VA code 5213 stipulates that if the forearm is incapable of turning the hand upwards by more than 30 degrees, a 10% rating is assigned to either arm. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. For Diagnostic Code 5208, veterans will receive a disability rating of 20 percent if their forearm flexion is limited to 100 degrees and their forearm extension is limited to 45 degrees. This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial. VA Disability Rating for Achilles & Ankle Tendonitis This means an in-service event, injury, or disease related to your military service caused you to develop Knee Pain. Note: Not to be combined with claw foot ratings. For the non-dominant hand, they cannot total more than 60%. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Take note that 0% ratings can still help, if you need to seekSpecial Monthly Compensation. Tendonitis in Elbow When the elbow can only bend 45, the dominant arm rates as 50% and the non-dominant as 40%. Is Tendonitis a Qualifying Condition for Disability Benefits? Elbow and Forearm Ratings The VASRD offers ratings for the following musculoskeletal conditions of the Elbow and Forearm: Loss of Use/Amputation of the Elbow Elbow Replacements Limitation of Motion of the Elbow Limitation of Motion of the Forearm Too Much Motion or Instability Musculoskeletal Diseases Injuries to the Bones of the Elbow and Forearm For digits II through V, the metacarpophalangeal joint has a range of zero to 90 degrees of flexion, the proximal interphalangeal joint has a range of zero to 100 degrees of flexion, and the distal (terminal) interphalangeal joint has a range of zero to 70 or 80 degrees of flexion, (2) When two or more digits of the same hand are affected by any combination of amputation, ankylosis, or limitation of motion that is not otherwise specified in the rating schedule, the evaluation level assigned will be that which best represents the overall disability (. Our VA disability calculator can help you with combining your ratings accounting for the bilateral factor. VA disability for arthritis in the knee is generally determined through range of motion testing. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Please do not provide confidential Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. A medical nexus that connects your current diagnosis of elbow tendonitis to a specific in-service event. VA Disability Ratings for Arthritis Conditions - Hill & Ponton You must: Have a current medical diagnosis for tendonitis Have experienced an in-service event or injury that caused your tendonitis Get a medical nexus explaining that the in-service event led to your tendonitis document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? 50/40 percent: Flexion limit is 45 degrees, 40/30 percent: Flexion limit is 55 degrees, 30/20 percent: Flexion limit is 70 degrees, 20/20 percent: Flexion limit is 90 degrees, 10/10 percent: Flexion limit is 100 degrees, 0/0 percent: Flexion limit is 110 degrees, 50/40 percent: Extension limit is 110 degrees, 40/30 percent: Extension limit is 100 degrees, 30/20 percent: Extension limit is 90 degrees, 20/20 percent: Extension limit is 75 degrees, 10/10 percent: Extension limit is 45 degrees. First, the combined rating of the two elbow tendonitis percentages would be calculated, and then an additional 10 percent would be combined to that rating. If you want to hand over the stress of the VAclaims processand give yourself every chance of successsimply book afree VA evaluationwith us today. 2 Also entitled to special monthly compensation. Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans Disability Benefits Attorneys Helping Veterans Nationwide, Published on May 12, 2020 by Mike Woods Last Updated on February 28, 2023. In some cases, doctors will request X-rays or other types of imaging tests to rule out other possible conditions or causes for the pain. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran's right elbow tendonitis has been manifested by pain and tenderness on palpation; pain on motion; elbow flexion has been to 145 degrees and extension has been to 0 degrees, with no additional loss of motion due to such factors as pain, weakness, lack of endurance, fatigability, or flare ups; there has been no VA disability ratings vary depending on functional ability. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires veterans applying for disability pay to meet each of the three criteria outlined below: When submitting your application, you must provide precise details of how you developed tennis elbow to be awarded a VA disability rating. 5243 Intervertebral disc syndrome: Assign this diagnostic code only when there is disc herniation with compression and/or irritation of the adjacent nerve root; assign diagnostic code 5242 for all other disc diagnoses. This website adheres to the W3Cs AA Accessibility guidelines. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. full text search results With intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion rate by analogy to 5270 or 5271. If yourelbow is not frozen in place, but there is a limited elbow range of motion, the VA will assign the following ratings under codes 5206, 5207, and 5208. will bring you directly to the content. 5001 Bones and joints, tuberculosis of, active or inactive: 5002 Multi-joint arthritis (except post-traumatic and gout), 2 or more joints, as an active process: With constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement, totally incapacitating, Less than criteria for 100% but with weight loss and anemia productive of severe impairment of health or severely incapacitating exacerbations occurring 4 or more times a year or a lesser number over prolonged periods, Symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health objectively supported by examination findings or incapacitating exacerbations occurring 3 or more times a year, One or two exacerbations a year in a well-established diagnosis.