---
title: "DC 5212 - Radius, impairment of:"
diagnostic_code: "5212"
body_system: "Musculoskeletal System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.71a"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/musculoskeletal/5212-radius-impairment-of"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a"
updated: "2026-07-21T19:47:52.927932Z"
---

# DC 5212 - Radius, impairment of:

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

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Rating (non-dominant) | Criteria |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 40% | 30% | Nonunion in lower half, with false movement: With loss of bone substance (1 inch (2.5 cms.) or more) and marked deformity |
| 30% | 20% | Nonunion in lower half, with false movement: Without loss of bone substance or deformity |
| 20% | 20% | Nonunion in upper half |
| 10% | 10% | Malunion of, with bad alignment |

## 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.

# Radius Impairment (VA Diagnostic Code 5212)

**Understanding how the VA rates impairment of the radius bone in the forearm.**

## What This Condition Is

The radius is one of the two long bones in the forearm. Under **Diagnostic Code 5212** (found in **§ 4.71a**, covering the **Musculoskeletal System**), the VA evaluates impairment of the radius.

When rating this condition, the VA looks closely at whether the bone has healed properly and where the problem is located along the bone:

- **Nonunion** means the bone has not healed back together.
- **False movement** refers to abnormal motion at the site where the bone should be solid.
- **Malunion** means the bone healed, but in a poor or misaligned position.
- **Loss of bone substance** and **deformity** describe how much bone is missing and how visibly the bone is affected.

The VA also considers whether the affected arm is your **dominant (major)** or **non-dominant (minor)** side, which can change the rating level.

## Available Rating Levels

| Rating (Dominant Arm) | Rating (Non-Dominant Arm) | What It Reflects |
|---|---|---|
| **40%** | 30% | Nonunion in the lower half, with false movement, **with** loss of bone substance (1 inch / 2.5 cm or more) and marked deformity |
| **30%** | 20% | Nonunion in the lower half, with false movement, **without** loss of bone substance or deformity |
| **20%** | 20% | Nonunion in the upper half |
| **10%** | 10% | Malunion, with bad alignment |

## What the VA Looks For

To place a radius impairment at the appropriate level, the VA evaluates:

- **Whether there is nonunion** (the bone has not healed) or **malunion** (the bone healed in a poor position).
- **Where along the bone the problem is** — the lower half versus the upper half.
- **Whether false movement is present** at the site of nonunion.
- **Whether bone substance has been lost** — specifically 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more — and whether there is marked deformity.
- **Whether the impairment affects the dominant or non-dominant arm.**

## Important Note

For all forearm and wrist injuries under codes **5205 through 5213**, if there are **multiple impaired finger movements** caused by tendon tie-up, muscle injury, or nerve injury, these are **rated separately and combined** — but the combined rating may not exceed the rating for loss of use of the hand.

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