VASRD 5013 · Musculoskeletal
Osteoporosis VA Disability Rating
Osteoporosis is loss of bone mineral density that leaves bone fragile enough to fracture from minor stress. The schedule titles DC 5013 "Osteoporosis, residuals of" — it rates what the disease has left behind, not the bone-density number, and it does that on limitation of motion of the affected parts.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Per joint, when motion is limited but not enough to rate on its own |
| 0% | Service-connected, but no compensable limitation of the affected parts |
How the VA Evaluates Osteoporosis
DC 5013 has no percentage criteria of its own, and no percentage in it turns on a DEXA T-score. The whole of its rating rule is the note that closes its block: "Evaluate the diseases under diagnostic codes 5013 through 5024 as degenerative arthritis, based on limitation of motion of affected parts." That routes to DC 5003, which rates "on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved (DC 5200 etc.)" — so the percentage is whatever the affected part's own code provides and differs part by part. There is no single ladder. Only where that limitation of motion is noncompensable does a fixed 10 percent apply, per major joint or group of minor joints, combined rather than added. DC 5003's own X-ray-based 20 and 10 percent ratings are expressly unavailable here: "Note (2): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be utilized in rating conditions listed under diagnostic codes 5013 to 5024, inclusive." This matters most for fragility fractures, because the fracture is usually rated where it happened rather than under DC 5013 — a vertebral compression fracture is evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (DC 5235, vertebral fracture or dislocation), a hip fracture under the hip and femur codes. 38 CFR 4.45(f) defines which joints count as major joints and which as groups of minor joints; 38 CFR 4.59 entitles an actually painful, unstable or malaligned joint to "at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint". Because the evaluation is assigned on the residual, a decision letter normally shows a hyphenated code such as 5013-5237 rather than a bare 5013 (38 CFR 4.27).
Approval outlook
Moderate – improves with fracture documentation and scan results.
Veterans service-connected
~1,600 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
- •Range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for every part osteoporosis has damaged — this is the only thing DC 5013 rates, and it is the measurement most osteoporosis claims are missing.
- •Imaging and operative reports for each fragility fracture, identifying the exact vertebra or bone, since the fracture is usually rated under that body part's own diagnostic code rather than under DC 5013.
- •A DEXA scan with the T-score and the treating clinician's diagnosis, which establish the disease even though no percentage turns on the number.
- •Records of the in-service cause where one applies — long-term corticosteroid therapy, prolonged immobilization, hypogonadism, or an endocrine condition already service-connected.
- •Examination findings documenting objective painful motion, spinal deformity or loss of height, which support both the per-joint 10 percent and the 38 CFR 4.59 minimum.
Strategy Tips
- •Submit your DEXA scan results and fracture records together, since both the bone density measurement and the actual fracture history are what this rating depends on.
- •Link the cause to medication use or a service-related condition if applicable, since this code isn't limited to trauma-caused bone weakening the way the post-traumatic version is.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Missing a bone density scan to confirm the underlying osteoporosis.
- •Not connecting fractures to the underlying low bone density.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Failing to show the link between a fracture and the underlying bone disease.
- •Omitting treatment history or scan results that would establish the diagnosis.
Onset Patterns
- •This condition is often asymptomatic until a fracture actually occurs, and is more common with long-term steroid use or other conditions that weaken bone density.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Osteoporosis. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common questions about Osteoporosis
- Is Osteoporosis a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Osteoporosis under VASRD diagnostic code 5013 (Musculoskeletal). Osteoporosis is loss of bone mineral density that leaves bone fragile enough to fracture from minor stress. The schedule titles DC 5013 "Osteoporosis, residuals of" — it rates what the disease has left behind, not the bone-density numbe…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Osteoporosis?
- Possible VA ratings for Osteoporosis are 10%, 0%. Examples: 10%: Per joint, when motion is limited but not enough to rate on its own; 0%: Service-connected, but no compensable limitation of the affected parts.
- What evidence helps prove Osteoporosis for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Osteoporosis claim includes: Range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for every part osteoporosis has damaged — this is the only thing DC 5013 rates, and it is the measurement most osteoporosis claims are missing.; Imaging and operative reports for each fragility fracture, identifying the exact…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Osteoporosis?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Osteoporosis: Failing to show the link between a fracture and the underlying bone disease.; Omitting treatment history or scan results that would establish the diagnosis..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Osteoporosis?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Osteoporosis include: Compression Fractures. 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 5013)
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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