YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid under diagnostic code 5121, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 90% and 80%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid
This code covers amputation of the arm above the point where the deltoid inserts. The amputation level fixes which code applies; the code's two percentages are not two heights but the two sides - 90 percent for the dominant (major) upper extremity and 80 percent for the non-dominant (minor) one. An amputation below the deltoid insertion is rated under DC 5122 at 80/70 instead.
DC 5121's single criterion row is "Above insertion of deltoid", rated 90 percent in the major (dominant) column and 80 percent in the minor (non-dominant) column. Two facts therefore decide the outcome: the operative record has to place the amputation above the deltoid insertion, which is what separates this code from DC 5122 below it, and the file has to establish which hand is dominant. Residual limb length, prosthetic success and functional recovery do not move the tier.
- Diagnostic code
- 5121
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 90% and 80%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid VA rating criteria (DC 5121)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim2 tips
- 01
Ask for the operative note that identifies the amputation level relative to the deltoid insertion; that single fact selects the diagnostic code and with it both percentages.
- 02
Raise phantom limb pain, prosthetic complications and overuse of the opposite shoulder as separate claims - they do not raise this code's evaluation, which is set by the level and the side.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Surgical records that do not state where the amputation falls relative to the deltoid insertion, which is what separates this code from DC 5122 below the insertion.
- 02
No documentation of hand dominance, which is the only thing separating the 90 percent column from the 80 percent one.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Missing rehabilitation notes.
- 02
No prosthetic evaluation to support the functional picture.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This level of amputation usually results from battlefield trauma, a severe fracture, or an infection requiring surgical removal.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Very high if service-connected trauma or surgery.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~300 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~90%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid
Is Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid under VASRD diagnostic code 5121 (Musculoskeletal System). This code covers amputation of the arm above the point where the deltoid inserts. The amputation level fixes which code applies; the code's two percentages are not two heights but the two sides - 90 percent for the dominant (major) upper extremity and 80 percent for the non-dominant (minor) one. An amputation below the deltoid insertion is rated under DC 5122 at 80/70 instead.
What VA disability rating can I get for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid?
Possible VA ratings for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid are 90%, 80%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 90%: Above insertion of deltoid - dominant (major) upper extremity; 80%: Above insertion of deltoid - non-dominant (minor) upper extremity.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid at around 90%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 300 veterans are service-connected for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid. Estimated approval outlook: Very high if service-connected trauma or surgery.
What evidence helps prove Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid claim includes: Surgical reports documenting the precise amputation level; Occupational therapy evaluations assessing residual arm function.
Which DBQ is used for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid?
VA's Amputations Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid?
Common pitfalls when filing for Arm, Amputation Above Insertion of Deltoid: Missing rehabilitation notes; No prosthetic evaluation to support the functional picture.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5121)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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