VA Diagnostic Code 5010Post-traumatic arthritis
Rated under § 4.71a. No rating levels have been extracted for this code yet — use the official source.
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Summary
Rate as limitation of motion, dislocation, or other specified instability under the affected joint. If there are 2 or more joints affected, each rating shall be combined in accordance with § 4.25.
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This code has no itemised criteria in our copy of the schedule. Use the official source link for the controlling text.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis (VA Diagnostic Code 5010)
Understanding This Condition
Post-traumatic arthritis is a joint condition rated by the VA under Diagnostic Code 5010, found in 38 CFR § 4.71a. It falls within the Musculoskeletal System group of conditions.
Unlike many rating entries, Diagnostic Code 5010 does not use its own percentage ladder. Instead, the VA evaluates post-traumatic arthritis based on how it affects the joint involved.
How the VA Rates Post-Traumatic Arthritis
According to the rating criteria, post-traumatic arthritis is rated as one of the following, depending on how the affected joint is impacted:
- Limitation of motion of the affected joint
- Dislocation of the affected joint
- Other specified instability of the affected joint
The applicable rating comes from the diagnostic criteria for the specific joint that is affected.
When More Than One Joint Is Involved
If two or more joints are affected, each joint is rated individually, and those ratings are then combined in accordance with 38 CFR § 4.25.
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating post-traumatic arthritis, the VA focuses on:
- The affected joint — the rating is tied to the specific joint involved.
- Limitation of motion — how the arthritis restricts movement of that joint.
- Dislocation — whether the joint experiences dislocation.
- Other specified instability — instability of the affected joint.
- The number of joints affected — with multiple joints, each is rated separately and the results are combined under § 4.25.
This information is based on the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5010. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5010. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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