Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5010
Post-Traumatic Arthritis Secondary to Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula
A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Post-Traumatic Arthritis when it develops after Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula.
Why Post-Traumatic Arthritis Is Linked to Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula
Chronic instability leads to joint wear
Primary condition · VASRD 5203
Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula
Damage to the collarbone or shoulder blade that affects shoulder function and stability.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5010
Post-Traumatic Arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis is joint degeneration that follows a specific injury — a fracture, dislocation or major ligament tear — rather than ordinary wear. Since February 7, 2021 DC 5010 has had no ladder of its own: the schedule reads "Rate as limitation of motion, dislocation, or other specified instability under the affected joint", so the percentage comes entirely from the injured joint's own diagnostic code and differs joint by joint.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Post-Traumatic Arthritis the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula — severity of Post-Traumatic Arthritis itself determines the percentage.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | The injured joint is painful or unstable but its limitation of motion is mild — the minimum compensable rating for that joint |
| 0% | Service-connected, but the joint does not meet a compensable level |
Example combined rating
10% Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula + 10% Post-Traumatic Arthritis = 19%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 10% and 10% combine to 19%, not 20%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
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Evidence for a Post-Traumatic Arthritis Secondary Claim
- •Service medical records documenting the original fracture, dislocation or ligament tear — this is the evidence that separates DC 5010 from ordinary degenerative arthritis under DC 5003.
- •Goniometer range-of-motion measurements for the injured joint, in degrees, since February 7, 2021 the percentage comes from the joint's own limitation-of-motion code and nothing else.
- •Examination findings recording objective painful motion, instability, subluxation or malalignment — 38 CFR 4.59's minimum-compensable floor is written around "actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury".
- •Imaging confirming degenerative change in that specific joint, which establishes the diagnosis even though it no longer sets the percentage.
- •A treatment history showing continuity of symptoms from the original injury to the current arthritis, plus a separate measurement for every joint involved, since each is rated and combined under 38 CFR 4.25.
Common questions about Post-Traumatic Arthritis secondary to Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula
- Can Post-Traumatic Arthritis be service-connected as secondary to Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula?
- Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Chronic instability leads to joint wear You'll need a current Post-Traumatic Arthritis diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected I…
- What VA rating can I get for Post-Traumatic Arthritis as a secondary condition?
- Post-Traumatic Arthritis is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5010 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 10%, 0%. The rating depends on the severity of Post-Traumatic Arthritis itself, not on the severity of Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula.
- How does a secondary Post-Traumatic Arthritis claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 10% rating for Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula combined with a 10% rating for Post-Traumatic Arthritis (example figures) produces a combined rating of 19%, not 20%. Approving Post-Traumatic Arthritis as secondary st…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Post-Traumatic Arthritis as secondary to Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Post-Traumatic Arthritis diagnosis includes: Service medical records documenting the original fracture, dislocation or ligament tear — this is the evidence that separates DC 5010 from ordinary degenerative arthritis under DC 5003.; Goniometer range-of-motion measurements for the inju…
Primary condition
Full Impairment of the Clavicle or Scapula guide
Secondary condition
Full Post-Traumatic Arthritis guide
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