Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5024
Tenosynovitis Secondary to Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation)
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 Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation).
Why Tenosynovitis Is Linked to Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation)
Overcompensation due to limited forearm rotation
Primary condition · VASRD 5213
Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation)
This code covers loss of the forearm's rotation - turning the palm up (supination) and down (pronation). VA rates it by whether the rotation is lost to bone fusion and, if so, the position the hand is fixed in, or whether pronation or supination is only partly limited, and by which arm is dominant.
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 Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation) — 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
10% Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation) + 10% Tenosynovitis = 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.
Email me this Tenosynovitis secondary guide
Get the rating criteria for Tenosynovitis, the evidence a secondary claim needs, and why it is linked to Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation) — delivered to your inbox.
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 Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation)
- Can Tenosynovitis be service-connected as secondary to Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation)?
- 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 due to limited forearm rotation You'll need a current Tenosynovitis diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Sup…
- 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 Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation).
- 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 10% rating for Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation) combined with a 10% rating for Tenosynovitis (example figures) produces a combined rating of 19%, not 20%. Approving Tenosynovitis as secondary still…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Tenosynovitis as secondary to Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation)?
- 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 Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation) guide
Secondary condition
Full Tenosynovitis guide
Estimate your combined rating
See how Supination and Pronation, Impairment (Forearm Rotation) and Tenosynovitis combine with the rest of your service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.
Open the calculator
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline