VA Diagnostic Code 5210Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint
A single 50% rating under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires for it.
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- 50%40% non-dominant
Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note: In all the forearm and wrist injuries, codes 5205 through 5213, multiple impaired finger movements due to tendon tie-up, muscle or nerve injury, are to be separately rated and combined not to exceed rating for loss of use of hand.
Nonunion of the Radius and Ulna with Flail False Joint (VA Diagnostic Code 5210)
Understanding This Condition
The radius and ulna are the two long bones in your forearm. This VA disability rating applies to a nonunion of the radius and ulna with flail false joint — a condition affecting the Musculoskeletal System, rated under 38 CFR § 4.71a.
In plain terms, "nonunion" refers to bones that have failed to heal back together. A "flail false joint" describes the resulting instability, where the forearm has abnormal, uncontrolled movement at the site because the bones are not properly joined.
Available Rating Levels
Under Diagnostic Code 5210, the rating depends on which arm is affected — your dominant arm (the one you write with) or your non-dominant arm:
| Rating | Criteria | Extremity |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | Nonunion of the radius and ulna, with flail false joint | Dominant extremity |
| 40% | Nonunion of the radius and ulna, with flail false joint | Non-dominant extremity |
What the VA Looks For
When rating this condition, the VA evaluates evidence of a nonunion of both the radius and the ulna, together with a flail false joint in the forearm, and considers whether the affected forearm is your dominant or non-dominant extremity.
Important Note on Related Impairments
For all forearm and wrist injuries (Diagnostic Codes 5205 through 5213), the VA notes:
Multiple impaired finger movements due to tendon tie-up, muscle or nerve injury are to be separately rated and combined — but the combined rating is not to exceed the rating for loss of use of the hand.
This means that if you also have finger movement impairments connected to this injury, those may be rated separately and combined, subject to that limit.
This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.71a and is provided for general educational purposes. Individual ratings depend on the specific medical evidence in each case.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5210. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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