---
title: "DC 5210 - Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint"
diagnostic_code: "5210"
body_system: "Musculoskeletal System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.71a"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/musculoskeletal/5210-radius-and-ulna-nonunion-of-with-flail-false-joint"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a"
updated: "2026-07-21T19:46:56.305896Z"
---

# DC 5210 - Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint

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

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Rating (non-dominant) | Criteria |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50% | 40% | Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint |

## 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.

# 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.*

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