Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5024
Tenosynovitis Secondary to Loss of Use of Both Hands
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 Tenosynovitis when it develops after Loss of Use of Both Hands.
Why Tenosynovitis Is Linked to Loss of Use of Both Hands
Overcompensation
Primary condition · VASRD 5109
Loss of Use of Both Hands
Both hands have lost all effective function. In 38 CFR 4.71a this is DC 5109, "Loss of use of both hands" — one row in the combinations-of-disabilities table, paying a single evaluation of 100 percent. It is functional loss with the hands still present; anatomical loss of both hands is a separate entry, DC 5106.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5024
Tenosynovitis
Tenosynovitis is inflammation of the sheath that surrounds a tendon, causing pain, swelling and catching on movement. Since February 7, 2021 DC 5024 has covered a wider family — the schedule titles it "Tenosynovitis, tendinitis, tendinosis or tendinopathy", so rotator cuff tendinitis, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, lateral epicondylitis, Achilles tendinopathy and trigger finger are all rated here. The code has no percentages of its own: it is rated as degenerative arthritis, on limitation of motion of the affected part.
Tenosynovitis VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Tenosynovitis the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Loss of Use of Both Hands — severity of Tenosynovitis itself determines the percentage.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Per joint, when motion is limited but not enough to rate on its own |
| 0% | Service-connected, but no compensable joint limitation |
Example combined rating
100% Loss of Use of Both Hands + 10% Tenosynovitis = 100%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 100% and 10% combine to 100%, not 110%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
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Evidence for a Tenosynovitis Secondary Claim
- •Goniometer range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for the joint the affected tendon crosses — this is the only thing DC 5024 rates.
- •Examination findings recording objective painful motion, localized swelling along the tendon, or crepitus, which is the confirmation DC 5003 requires before the per-joint 10 percent can be assigned.
- •Ultrasound or MRI showing tendon sheath thickening, tendinosis or a partial tear, plus injection, splinting, physical therapy or release-surgery records.
- •Documentation of functional loss on repeated use over time, which 38 CFR 4.40 treats as "as important as limitation of motion".
- •A separate measurement for every tendon site involved, since each major joint or minor joint group with noncompensable limitation of motion carries its own 10 percent, combined rather than added.
Common questions about Tenosynovitis secondary to Loss of Use of Both Hands
- Can Tenosynovitis be service-connected as secondary to Loss of Use of Both Hands?
- 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. Overcompensation You'll need a current Tenosynovitis diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Loss of Use of Both Hands — the sam…
- What VA rating can I get for Tenosynovitis as a secondary condition?
- Tenosynovitis is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5024 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 10%, 0%. The rating depends on the severity of Tenosynovitis itself, not on the severity of Loss of Use of Both Hands.
- How does a secondary Tenosynovitis claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 100% rating for Loss of Use of Both Hands combined with a 10% rating for Tenosynovitis (example figures) produces a combined rating of 100%, not 110%. Approving Tenosynovitis as secondary still typically raises your overa…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Tenosynovitis as secondary to Loss of Use of Both Hands?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Tenosynovitis diagnosis includes: Goniometer range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for the joint the affected tendon crosses — this is the only thing DC 5024 rates.; Examination findings recording objective painful motion, localized swelling along the tendon, or crepitus, which i…
Primary condition
Full Loss of Use of Both Hands guide
Secondary condition
Full Tenosynovitis guide
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