VASRD 5122 · Musculoskeletal
Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid VA Disability Rating
This code covers amputation of the arm below the insertion of the deltoid. It pays 80 percent for the dominant (major) upper extremity and 70 percent for the non-dominant (minor) one - the two figures are the two sides, not two amputation heights. An amputation above the deltoid insertion is a different, higher-paying code (DC 5121).
VA Rating Tiers
How the VA Evaluates Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid
DC 5122's single criterion row is "Below insertion of deltoid", rated 80 percent in the major (dominant) column and 70 percent in the minor (non-dominant) column. The row states no lower boundary; the table supplies it, because the entry that follows DC 5122 is the context heading "Forearm, amputation of:" ahead of DC 5123, "Above insertion of pronator teres". So DC 5122 is the upper-arm segment below the deltoid insertion, and an amputation in the forearm is rated under DC 5123 or DC 5124 instead. Once the level fixes the code, only hand dominance moves the evaluation.
Approval outlook
Very high (~95%) with amputation record.
Veterans service-connected
~150 veterans
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •Surgical reports.
- •Occupational therapy notes documenting functional recovery.
Strategy Tips
- •Get the operative report to fix the amputation level relative to the deltoid insertion; that one fact selects the diagnostic code and with it both percentages.
- •Establish hand dominance explicitly in the record, since it is the only thing separating 80 percent from 70.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Records that do not place the amputation relative to the deltoid insertion, which is what separates this code from DC 5121 above it.
- •Rating by hand dominance with nothing in the file establishing which hand is dominant.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •No distinction made between the dominant and non-dominant side.
- •Lack of prosthesis use documentation.
Onset Patterns
- •This type of amputation commonly results from combat injury, an accident, or surgery following a severe infection.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Phantom Limb Pain
Nerve endings firing
PTSD
Trauma from injury
Common questions about Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid
- Is Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid under VASRD diagnostic code 5122 (Musculoskeletal). This code covers amputation of the arm below the insertion of the deltoid. It pays 80 percent for the dominant (major) upper extremity and 70 percent for the non-dominant (minor) one - the two figures ar…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid?
- Possible VA ratings for Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid are 80%, 70%. Examples: 80%: The arm is amputated below the point where the deltoid attaches. On your dominant side this rates 80 percent.; 70%: The same amputation on your non-dominant side rates 70 percent..
- What evidence helps prove Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid claim includes: Surgical reports.; Occupational therapy notes documenting functional recovery..
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid: No distinction made between the dominant and non-dominant side.; Lack of prosthesis use documentation..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Amputation of Arm, Below Insertion of Deltoid include: Phantom Limb Pain, PTSD. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a — Schedule of ratings — musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5122)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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