VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
38 CFR 4.43: Shared Regulatory Context
Read the source context and regulatory notes referenced by diagnostic-code pages using 38 CFR 4.43, with official citations and the current text date.
These source provisions supply context for the linked rating criteria. They are not separate evaluations automatically assigned to every condition. Read the diagnostic code and its own cross-references together.
Chronic, or recurring, suppurative osteomyelitis, once clinically identified, including chronic inflammation of bone marrow, cortex, or periosteum, should be considered as a continuously disabling process, whether or not an actively discharging sinus or other obvious evidence of infection is manifest from time to time, and unless the focus is entirely removed by amputation will entitle to a permanent rating to be combined with other ratings for residual conditions, however, not exceeding amputation ratings at the site of election.
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Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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