Musculoskeletal
38 CFR § 4.71a
Back, knee, shoulder, joint, and bone conditions rated under the musculoskeletal diagnostic codes.
Knee instability is rated under DC 5257. Other foot injuries are listed in the schedule as DC 5284, “Foot injuries, other.” The schedule lists limitation of abduction, adduction, and rotation of the thigh under DC 5253.
More codes in this area: the guides below are highlights. Every diagnostic code in this body system is listed further down the page. Codes in a neighbouring body system, such as ears, nerves, or eyes, are on that system's own index.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.
Back & spine — full guide (ROM / IVDS)
DC 5235–5243
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Vertebral fracture or dislocation
DC 5235
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Sacroiliac injury and weakness
DC 5236
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Lumbosacral or cervical strain
DC 5237
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Spinal stenosis
DC 5238
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Spondylolisthesis / segmental instability
DC 5239
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Ankylosing spondylitis
DC 5240
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Spinal fusion
DC 5241
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Degenerative arthritis / DDD of spine (non-IVDS)
DC 5242
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
DC 5243
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Knee Conditions
DC 5256–5261
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Shoulder Conditions
DC 5201–5203
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Hip Conditions
DC 5250–5255
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Ankle Conditions
DC 5270–5274
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Foot Conditions
DC 5276–5284
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Elbow Conditions
DC 5205–5210
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Wrist Conditions
DC 5214–5215
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Hand and Finger Conditions
DC 5152–5230
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Plantar Fasciitis
DC 5269
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Flat Feet (Pes Planus)
DC 5276
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Fibromyalgia
DC 5025
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Osteoarthritis
DC 5003
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Osteomyelitis
DC 5000
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Tuberculosis, bones and joints
DC 5001
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Multi-joint arthritis (active process)
DC 5002
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Arthritis, gonorrheal
DC 5004
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Arthritis, pneumococcic
DC 5005
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Arthritis, typhoid
DC 5006
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Arthritis, syphilitic
DC 5007
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Arthritis, streptococcic
DC 5008
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Other specified arthropathy (excl. gout)
DC 5009
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Post-traumatic arthritis
DC 5010
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Decompression illness
DC 5011
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Bones — malignant neoplasm
DC 5012
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Osteoporosis (residuals)
DC 5013
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Osteomalacia (residuals)
DC 5014
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Bones — benign neoplasm
DC 5015
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Osteitis deformans (Paget’s)
DC 5016
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Gout
DC 5017
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Bursitis
DC 5019
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Myositis
DC 5021
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Heterotopic ossification
DC 5023
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Tenosynovitis / tendinitis / tendinopathy
DC 5024
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Shoulder replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5051
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Elbow replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5052
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Wrist replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5053
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Hip resurfacing / replacement
DC 5054
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Knee resurfacing / replacement
DC 5055
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Ankle replacement (prosthesis)
DC 5056
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Anatomical Loss of Both Hands
DC 5106
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Loss of hand + loss of use of foot
DC 5104
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Loss of foot + loss of use of hand
DC 5105
Includes official VA rating criteria with schedular percentages and key evidence themes on the guide page.
Diagnostic codes in this body system
163 catalog entries in Musculoskeletal. The guides above are highlights. Each link opens that code's catalog page.
- DC 5025Fibromyalgia
- DC 5054Hip replacement (prosthetic joint)
- DC 5055Knee replacement (prosthetic joint)
- DC 5106Anatomical loss of both hands
- DC 5107Anatomical loss of both feet
- DC 5108Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot
- DC 5109Loss of use of both hands
- DC 5110Loss of use of both feet
- DC 5111Loss of use of one hand and one foot
- DC 5120Complete amputation, upper extremity
- DC 5121Arm amputation, above insertion of deltoid
- DC 5122Arm amputation, below insertion of deltoid
- DC 5123Forearm amputation, above insertion of pronator teres
- DC 5124Forearm amputation, below insertion of pronator teres
- DC 5125Hand, loss of use of
- DC 5126Five digits of one hand, amputation
- DC 5127Four digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index, long and ring
- DC 5128Four digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index, long and little
- DC 5129Four digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index, ring and little
- DC 5130Four digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, long, ring and little
- DC 5131Four digits of one hand, amputation of the index, long, ring and little
- DC 5132Three digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index and long
- DC 5133Three digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index and ring
- DC 5134Three digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index and little
- DC 5135Three digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, long and ring
- DC 5136Three digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, long and little
- DC 5137Three digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, ring and little
- DC 5138Three digits of one hand, amputation of the index, long and ring
- DC 5139Three digits of one hand, amputation of the index, long and little
- DC 5140Three digits of one hand, amputation of the index, ring and little
- DC 5141Three digits of one hand, amputation of the long, ring and little
- DC 5142Two digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb and index
- DC 5143Two digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb and long
- DC 5144Two digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb and ring
- DC 5145Two digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb and little
- DC 5146Two digits of one hand, amputation of the index and long
- DC 5147Two digits of one hand, amputation of the index and ring
- DC 5148Two digits of one hand, amputation of the index and little
- DC 5149Two digits of one hand, amputation of the long and ring
- DC 5150Two digits of one hand, amputation of the long and little
- DC 5151Two digits of one hand, amputation of the ring and little
- DC 5152Thumb, amputation
- DC 5153Index finger, amputation
- DC 5154Long finger, amputation
- DC 5155Ring finger, amputation
- DC 5156Little finger, amputation
- DC 5160Complete amputation, lower extremity
- DC 5161Thigh amputation, upper third
- DC 5162Thigh amputation, middle or lower thirds
- DC 5163Leg amputation with a defective stump, thigh amputation recommended
- DC 5164Leg amputation not improvable by a prosthesis controlled by natural knee action
- DC 5165Leg amputation at a lower level, permitting a prosthesis
- DC 5166Forefoot amputation proximal to the metatarsal bones (more than one-half of the metatarsal lost)
- DC 5167Foot, loss of use of
- DC 5170Toes, all, amputation of, without metatarsal loss or transmetatarsal, amputation of, with up to half of metatarsal loss
- DC 5171Great toe, amputation
- DC 5172Toes other than the great toe, amputation with removal of the metatarsal head
- DC 5173Three or four toes, amputation without metatarsal involvement
- DC 5200Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis
- DC 5201Arm, limitation of motion
- DC 5202Humerus, other impairment
- DC 5203Clavicle or scapula, impairment
- DC 5205Elbow, ankylosis
- DC 5206Forearm, limitation of flexion
- DC 5207Forearm, limitation of extension
- DC 5208Forearm, flexion limited
- DC 5209Elbow, other impairment
- DC 5210Radius and ulna, nonunion
- DC 5211Ulna, impairment
- DC 5212Radius, impairment
- DC 5213Supination and pronation, impairment
- DC 5214Wrist, ankylosis
- DC 5215Wrist, limitation of motion
- DC 5216Five digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis
- DC 5217Four digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis
- DC 5218Three digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis
- DC 5219Two digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis
- DC 5220Five digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis
- DC 5221Four digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis
- DC 5222Three digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis
- DC 5223Two digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis
- DC 5224Thumb, ankylosis
- DC 5225Index finger, ankylosis
- DC 5226Long finger, ankylosis
- DC 5227Ring or little finger, ankylosis
- DC 5228Thumb, limitation of motion
- DC 5229Index or long finger, limitation of motion
- DC 5230Ring or little finger, limitation of motion
- DC 5235Vertebral fracture or dislocation
- DC 5236Sacroiliac injury and weakness
- DC 5237Lumbosacral or cervical strain
- DC 5238Spinal stenosis
- DC 5239Spondylolisthesis or segmental instability
- DC 5240Ankylosing spondylitis
- DC 5241Spinal fusion
- DC 5242Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010)
- DC 5243Intervertebral disc syndrome
- DC 5244Traumatic paralysis, complete
- DC 5250Hip, ankylosis
- DC 5251Thigh, limitation of extension
- DC 5252Thigh, limitation of flexion
- DC 5253Thigh, impairment
- DC 5254Hip, flail joint
- DC 5255Femur, impairment
- DC 5256Knee, ankylosis
- DC 5257Knee, other impairment
- DC 5258Cartilage, semilunar, dislocated
- DC 5259Cartilage, semilunar, removal
- DC 5260Leg, limitation of flexion
- DC 5261Leg, limitation of extension
- DC 5262Tibia and fibula, impairment
- DC 5263Genu recurvatum
- DC 5269Plantar fasciitis
- DC 5270Ankle, ankylosis
- DC 5271Ankle, limited motion
- DC 5272Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis
- DC 5273Os calcis or astragalus, malunion
- DC 5274Astragalectomy
- DC 5275Lower extremity bones, shortening
- DC 5276Flatfoot, acquired
- DC 5277Weak foot, bilateral
- DC 5278Claw foot (pes cavus), acquired
- DC 5279Metatarsalgia, anterior (Morton's disease)
- DC 5280Hallux valgus
- DC 5281Hallux rigidus
- DC 5282Hammer toe
- DC 5283Tarsal or metatarsal bones, malunion or nonunion
- DC 5284Foot injuries, other
- DC 5295Lumbosacral strain (legacy — pre-9/26/2003 schedule)
- DC 5296Skull, loss of part of both inner and outer tables
- DC 5297Ribs, removal
- DC 5298Coccyx, removal
- DC 5301Group I Function: Upward rotation of scapula
- DC 5302Group II Function: Depression of arm
- DC 5303Group III Function: Elevation and abduction of arm
- DC 5304Group IV Function: Stabilization of shoulder
- DC 5305Group V Function: Elbow supination
- DC 5306Group VI Function: Extension of elbow
- DC 5307Group VII Function: Flexion of wrist and fingers
- DC 5308Group VIII Function: Extension of wrist, fingers, thumb
- DC 5309Group IX Function: Forearm muscles
- DC 5310Group X Function: Movement of forefoot and toes
- DC 5311Group XI Function: Propulsion of foot
- DC 5312Group XII Function: Dorsiflexion
- DC 5313Group XIII Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee
- DC 5314Group XIV Function: Extension of knee
- DC 5315Group XV Function: Adduction of hip
- DC 5316Group XVI Function: Flexion of hip
- DC 5317Group XVII Function: Extension of hip
- DC 5318Group XVIII Function: Outward rotation of thigh
- DC 5319Group XIX Function: Abdominal wall and lower thorax
- DC 5320Group XX Function: Postural support of body
- DC 5321Group XXI Function: Respiration
- DC 5322Group XXII Function: Rotary and forward movements, head
- DC 5323Group XXIII Function: Movements of head
- DC 5324Diaphragm, rupture
- DC 5325Muscle injury, facial muscles
- DC 5326Muscle hernia
- DC 5327Muscle, neoplasm of, malignant
- DC 5328Muscle, neoplasm of, benign
- DC 5329Sarcoma, soft tissue
- DC 5330Rhabdomyolysis, residuals of
- DC 5331Compartment syndrome