YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity under diagnostic code 5120, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 100% and 90%.
Free · No account needed
Save your Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity guide
Email yourself this Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity guide so the rating criteria, evidence checklist, and preparation tips are easy to find later.
A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity
This code covers complete amputation of the upper extremity at its two highest levels: forequarter amputation, which takes the humerus together with part of the shoulder girdle, and disarticulation, which removes the humerus only. Both rows pay the same on either side - this code has no dominant versus non-dominant difference - so the evaluation turns entirely on which of the two levels the operative record documents.
DC 5120 has two criterion rows. "Forequarter amputation (involving complete removal of the humerus along with any portion of the scapula, clavicle, and/or ribs)" rates 100 percent. "Disarticulation (involving complete removal of the humerus only)" rates 90 percent. On both rows the major and minor rating columns carry the same figure, so hand dominance changes nothing here. The deciding evidence is the operative report describing exactly what was removed - specifically whether any part of the scapula, clavicle or ribs went with the humerus.
- Diagnostic code
- 5120
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 100% and 90%
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
Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity VA rating criteria (DC 5120)
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 Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity 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 Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity?
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 Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity 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
Request the full operative report rather than the discharge summary, since the 100 percent row turns on removal of part of the shoulder girdle along with the humerus.
- 02
Document prosthetic fitting difficulties and limits on daily activities. They do not change this code's tier, but they support the separate claims that turn on functional loss.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
An operative record that says only "shoulder amputation" without stating whether any part of the scapula, clavicle or ribs was removed - that distinction is the whole difference between the 90 and 100 percent rows.
- 02
Arguing hand dominance for a higher evaluation; both rows of this code pay the same on either side.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Not establishing whether the amputation was a forequarter amputation or a disarticulation.
- 02
Missing prosthetic and rehabilitation documentation.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This type of amputation typically results from traumatic injury, including battlefield amputation.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Very High if amputation documented.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~60 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 Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity
Is Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity under VASRD diagnostic code 5120 (Musculoskeletal System). This code covers complete amputation of the upper extremity at its two highest levels: forequarter amputation, which takes the humerus together with part of the shoulder girdle, and disarticulation, which removes the humerus only. Both rows pay the same on either side - this code has no dominant versus non-dominant difference - so the evaluation turns entirely on which of the two levels the operative record documents.
What VA disability rating can I get for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity?
Possible VA ratings for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity are 100%, 90%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 100%: Forequarter amputation (involving complete removal of the humerus along with any portion of the scapula, clavicle, and/or ribs); 90%: Disarticulation (involving complete removal of the humerus only).
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity at around 90%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 60 veterans are service-connected for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity. Estimated approval outlook: Very High if amputation documented.
What evidence helps prove Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity claim includes: Surgical documentation confirming the disarticulation; Occupational therapy notes.
Which DBQ is used for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity?
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 Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity?
Common pitfalls when filing for Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity: Not establishing whether the amputation was a forequarter amputation or a disarticulation; Missing prosthetic and rehabilitation documentation.
What conditions can be secondary to Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Complete Amputation of the Upper Extremity, when a medical opinion links them, include: Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5120)
- 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.
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline