VASRD 5207 · Musculoskeletal System
Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) VA Disability Rating
Difficulty straightening the elbow — the joint stops short of full extension because of injury, fusion or arthritis.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 50% | Your dominant elbow will not straighten past about 110 degrees — it stays sharply bent. |
| 40% | A non-dominant elbow stuck at 110 degrees, or a dominant elbow that will not straighten past 100 degrees. |
| 30% | A non-dominant elbow stuck at 100 degrees, or a dominant elbow that will not straighten past 90 degrees. |
| 20% | A non-dominant elbow stuck at 90 degrees, or either elbow that will not straighten past 75 degrees. |
| 10% | Either elbow will not straighten past 60 degrees, or past 45 degrees. |
How the VA Evaluates Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow)
This code rates limitation of EXTENSION — how far short of straight the elbow stops — not flexion, which is a separate evaluation under DC 5206. The schedule states six steps in degrees: extension limited to 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 100° and 110°. The three most severe pay more on the dominant (major) arm than on the non-dominant (minor) arm — 50/40 at 110°, 40/30 at 100°, 30/20 at 90° — while extension limited to 75° pays 20 percent on either arm. The schedule prints extension limited to 60° and extension limited to 45° at the same 10 percent on either arm; that repetition is in the regulation and is not a transcription error. Unlike DC 5206, this code prints no 0 percent step. Where flexion and extension are both restricted at the specific combination of flexion limited to 100° with extension limited to 45°, the schedule provides a single 20 percent evaluation under DC 5208.
Approval outlook
High
Veterans service-connected
~4,200 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~30%
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
- •Goniometer range-of-motion measurements stating elbow EXTENSION in degrees — the point at which the elbow stops short of straight — not flexion alone.
- •An orthopedic exam documenting the injury, contracture or arthritis causing the extension deficit.
- •Imaging (MRI or X-ray) showing the underlying cause of the limitation.
- •A record identifying which arm is dominant.
Strategy Tips
- •Use a goniometer test performed to VA standards, since this specific tool and measurement method is what the rating schedule depends on.
- •Ask that flexion and extension be recorded as two separate figures, since they are two separate evaluations under two separate codes.
- •Make sure the record names the dominant arm: at 110°, 100° and 90° the same measurement is worth ten points more on the dominant side.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •An exam that reports only flexion, leaving the extension deficit this code rates unmeasured.
- •Recording extension loosely ('cannot fully straighten') without the degree at which the elbow stops, which makes the finding impossible to match to a rating step.
- •No comparison to the unaffected arm, which helps establish how significant the limitation actually is.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Missing specific angle data in the evidence, since the rating steps for this code are stated directly in degrees.
- •No specialist input to properly document and interpret the range-of-motion findings.
- •Filing this as limitation of flexion — flexion is DC 5206 and a separate evaluation; this code rates extension only.
Onset Patterns
- •This condition is typically injury-based, following an elbow fracture, dislocation, or ligament damage, or arthritis-related from degeneration in the joint over time.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow). Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Shoulder compensation pain
Nerve impingement
Common questions about Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow)
- Is Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) under VASRD diagnostic code 5207 (Musculoskeletal System). Difficulty straightening the elbow — the joint stops short of full extension because of injury, fusion or arthritis.
- What VA disability rating can I get for Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow)?
- Possible VA ratings for Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) are 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%. Examples: 50%: Your dominant elbow will not straighten past about 110 degrees — it stays sharply bent.; 40%: A non-dominant elbow stuck at 110 degrees, or a dominant elbow that will not straighten past 100 degrees.; 30%: A non-d…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow)?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 4,200 veterans are service-connected for Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow). Estimated approval outlook: High.
- What evidence helps prove Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) claim includes: Goniometer range-of-motion measurements stating elbow EXTENSION in degrees — the point at which the elbow stops short of straight — not flexion alone.; An orthopedic exam documenting the injury, contracture or arthritis causing the extension d…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow)?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow): Missing specific angle data in the evidence, since the rating steps for this code are stated directly in degrees.; No specialist input to properly document and interpret the range-of-motion findings.; Filing this as limitation of flexion — flexion…
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow)?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Forearm, Extension Limitation (Elbow) include: Shoulder compensation pain, Nerve impingement. 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 5207)
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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