---
title: "DC 5208 - Forearm, flexion limited to 100° and extension to 45°"
diagnostic_code: "5208"
body_system: "Musculoskeletal System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.71a"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/musculoskeletal/5208-forearm-flexion-limited-to-100-and-extension-to-45"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a"
updated: "2026-07-21T19:45:58.413089Z"
---

# DC 5208 - Forearm, flexion limited to 100° and extension to 45°

Rated under § 4.71a. Body system: Musculoskeletal System.

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Rating (non-dominant) | Criteria |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20% | 20% | Forearm, flexion limited to 100° and extension to 45° |

## Notes

- 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.

# Limited Forearm Motion (Flexion to 100° and Extension to 45°) — VA Diagnostic Code 5208

*Musculoskeletal System · 38 CFR § 4.71a · Diagnostic Code 5208*

## What This Rating Covers

This VA disability rating applies when an elbow or forearm injury restricts your range of motion so that **flexion is limited to 100°** (how far you can bend your arm) **and extension is limited to 45°** (how far you can straighten it).

Because both limitations occur together, this specific combination is recognized under Diagnostic Code 5208.

## Available Rating Level

Under Diagnostic Code 5208, there is a single rating level:

| Rating | What It Reflects |
| --- | --- |
| **20%** | Forearm flexion limited to 100° **and** extension limited to 45° |

For this code, the rating is **20% whether the affected arm is your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) extremity.**

## What the VA Looks For

- **Measured range of motion** in the affected forearm — specifically whether flexion is limited to 100° and extension is limited to 45°.
- Whether both of these limitations are present, since this code addresses that particular combination.

## Related Considerations

- **Finger movement impairments:** Per the VA's note for forearm and wrist injuries (Diagnostic Codes 5205 through 5213), if you have **multiple impaired finger movements** due to tendon tie-up, muscle injury, or nerve injury, those are to be **rated separately and combined** — but the combined rating cannot exceed the rating for loss of use of the hand.

---

*This information summarizes the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 5208 under 38 CFR § 4.71a. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.*

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a