VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
The Musculoskeletal System VA Rating Codes
Browse 190 active diagnostic codes in the musculoskeletal system, with current criteria, notes and links to the published regulation.
The the musculoskeletal system collection covers the following named conditions and rating methods. Select a code to read its own criteria and any applicable shared formula. The section and code number identify the rule; they do not establish service connection.
- DC 5000: Osteomyelitis, acute, subacute, or chronic
- DC 5001: Bones and joints, tuberculosis of, active or inactive
- DC 5002: Multi-joint arthritis (except post-traumatic and gout), 2 or more joints, as an active process
- DC 5003: Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic
- DC 5004: Arthritis, gonorrheal
- DC 5005: Arthritis, pneumococcic
- DC 5006: Arthritis, typhoid
- DC 5007: Arthritis, syphilitic
- DC 5008: Arthritis, streptococcic
- DC 5009: Other specified forms of arthropathy (excluding gout)
- DC 5010: Post-traumatic arthritis: Rate as limitation of motion, dislocation, or other specified instability under the affected joint. If there are 2 or more joints affected, each rating shall be combined in accordance with § 4.25
- DC 5011: Decompression illness: Rate manifestations under the appropriate diagnostic code within the affected body system, such as arthritis for musculoskeletal residuals; auditory system for vestibular residuals; respiratory system for pulmonary barotrauma residuals; and neurologic system for cerebrovascular accident residuals
- DC 5012: Bones, neoplasm, malignant, primary or secondary
- DC 5013: Osteoporosis, residuals of
- DC 5014: Osteomalacia, residuals of
- DC 5015: Bones, neoplasm, benign
- DC 5016: Osteitis deformans
- DC 5017: Gout
- DC 5019: Bursitis
- DC 5021: Myositis
- DC 5023: Heterotopic ossification
- DC 5024: Tenosynovitis, tendinitis, tendinosis or tendinopathy
- DC 5025: Fibromyalgia (fibrositis, primary fibromyalgia syndrome)
- DC 5051: Shoulder replacement (prosthesis)
- DC 5052: Elbow replacement (prosthesis)
- DC 5053: Wrist replacement (prosthesis)
- DC 5054: Hip, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis)
- DC 5055: Knee, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis)
- DC 5056: Ankle replacement (prosthesis)
- DC 5104: Anatomical loss of one hand and loss of use of one foot
- DC 5105: Anatomical loss of one foot and loss of use of one hand
- DC 5106: Anatomical loss of both hands
- DC 5107: Anatomical loss of both feet
- DC 5108: Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot
- DC 5109: Loss of use of both hands
- DC 5110: Loss of use of both feet
- DC 5111: Loss of use of one hand and one foot
- DC 5120: Complete amputation, upper extremity
- DC 5121: Above insertion of deltoid
- DC 5122: Below insertion of deltoid
- DC 5123: Above insertion of pronator teres
- DC 5124: Below insertion of pronator teres
- DC 5125: Hand, loss of use of
- DC 5126: Five digits of one hand, amputation of
- DC 5127: Thumb, index, long and ring
- DC 5128: Thumb, index, long and little
- DC 5129: Thumb, index, ring and little
- DC 5130: Thumb, long, ring and little
- DC 5131: Index, long, ring and little
- DC 5132: Thumb, index and long
- DC 5133: Thumb, index and ring
- DC 5134: Thumb, index and little
- DC 5135: Thumb, long and ring
- DC 5136: Thumb, long and little
- DC 5137: Thumb, ring and little
- DC 5138: Index, long and ring
- DC 5139: Index, long and little
- DC 5140: Index, ring and little
- DC 5141: Long, ring and little
- DC 5142: Thumb and index
- DC 5143: Thumb and long
- DC 5144: Thumb and ring
- DC 5145: Thumb and little
- DC 5146: Index and long
- DC 5147: Index and ring
- DC 5148: Index and little
- DC 5149: Long and ring
- DC 5150: Long and little
- DC 5151: Ring and little
- DC 5152: Thumb, amputation of
- DC 5153: Index finger, amputation of
- DC 5154: Long finger, amputation of
- DC 5155: Ring finger, amputation of
- DC 5156: Little finger, amputation of
- DC 5160: Complete amputation, lower extremity
- DC 5161: Upper third, one-third of the distance from perineum to knee joint measured from perineum
- DC 5162: Middle or lower thirds
- DC 5163: With defective stump, thigh amputation recommended
- DC 5164: Amputation not improvable by prosthesis controlled by natural knee action
- DC 5165: At a lower level, permitting prosthesis
- DC 5166: Forefoot, amputation proximal to metatarsal bones (more than one-half of metatarsal loss)
- DC 5167: Foot, loss of use of
- DC 5170: Toes, all, amputation of, without metatarsal loss or transmetatarsal, amputation of, with up to half of metatarsal loss
- DC 5171: Toe, great, amputation of
- DC 5172: Toes, other than great, amputation of, with removal of metatarsal head
- DC 5173: Toes, three or four, amputation of, without metatarsal involvement
- DC 5200: Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis of
- DC 5201: Arm, limitation of motion of
- DC 5202: Humerus, other impairment of
- DC 5203: Clavicle or scapula, impairment of
- DC 5205: Elbow, ankylosis of
- DC 5206: Forearm, limitation of flexion of
- DC 5207: Forearm, limitation of extension of
- DC 5208: Forearm, flexion limited to 100° and extension to 45°
- DC 5209: Elbow, other impairment of Flail joint
- DC 5210: Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint
- DC 5211: Ulna, impairment of
- DC 5212: Radius, impairment of
- DC 5213: Supination and pronation, impairment of
- DC 5214: Wrist, ankylosis of
- DC 5215: Wrist, limitation of motion of
- DC 5216: Five digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- DC 5217: Four digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- DC 5218: Three digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- DC 5219: Two digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- DC 5220: Five digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis of
- DC 5221: Four digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis of
- DC 5222: Three digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis of
- DC 5223: Two digits of one hand, favorable ankylosis of
- DC 5224: Thumb, ankylosis of
- DC 5225: Index finger, ankylosis of
- DC 5226: Long finger, ankylosis of
- DC 5227: Ring or little finger, ankylosis of
- DC 5228: Thumb, limitation of motion
- DC 5229: Index or long finger, limitation of motion
- DC 5230: Ring or little finger, limitation of motion
- DC 5235: Vertebral fracture or dislocation
- DC 5236: Sacroiliac injury and weakness
- DC 5237: Lumbosacral or cervical strain
- DC 5238: Spinal stenosis
- DC 5239: Spondylolisthesis or segmental instability
- DC 5240: Ankylosing spondylitis
- DC 5241: Spinal fusion
- DC 5242: Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010)
- DC 5243: Intervertebral disc syndrome: Assign this diagnostic code only when there is disc herniation with compression and/or irritation of the adjacent nerve root; assign diagnostic code 5242 for all other disc diagnoses
- DC 5244: Traumatic paralysis, complete
- DC 5250: Hip, ankylosis of
- DC 5251: Thigh, limitation of extension of
- DC 5252: Thigh, limitation of flexion of
- DC 5253: Thigh, impairment of
- DC 5254: Hip, flail joint
- DC 5255: Femur, impairment of
- DC 5256: Knee, ankylosis of
- DC 5257: Knee, other impairment of
- DC 5258: Cartilage, semilunar, dislocated, with frequent episodes of “locking,” pain, and effusion into the joint
- DC 5259: Cartilage, semilunar, removal of, symptomatic
- DC 5260: Leg, limitation of flexion of
- DC 5261: Leg, limitation of extension of
- DC 5262: Tibia and fibula, impairment of
- DC 5263: Genu recurvatum (acquired, traumatic, with weakness and insecurity in weight-bearing objectively demonstrated)
- DC 5269: Plantar fasciitis
- DC 5270: Ankle, ankylosis of
- DC 5271: Ankle, limited motion of
- DC 5272: Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis of
- DC 5273: Os calcis or astragalus, malunion of
- DC 5274: Astragalectomy
- DC 5275: Bones, of the lower extremity, shortening of
- DC 5276: Flatfoot, acquired
- DC 5277: Weak foot, bilateral
- DC 5278: Claw foot (pes cavus), acquired
- DC 5279: Metatarsalgia, anterior (Morton's disease), unilateral, or bilateral
- DC 5280: Hallux valgus, unilateral
- DC 5281: Hallux rigidus, unilateral, severe
- DC 5282: Hammer toe
- DC 5283: Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of
- DC 5284: Foot injuries, other
- DC 5296: Skull, loss of part of, both inner and outer tables
- DC 5297: Ribs, removal of
- DC 5298: Coccyx, removal of
- DC 5301: Group I. Function: Upward rotation of scapula; elevation of arm above shoulder level. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Trapezius; (2) levator scapulae; (3) serratus magnus
- DC 5302: Group II. Function: Depression of arm from vertical overhead to hanging at side (1, 2); downward rotation of scapula (3, 4); 1 and 2 act with Group III in forward and backward swing of arm. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Pectoralis major II (costosternal); (2) latissimus dorsi and teres major (teres major, although technically an intrinsic muscle, is included with latissimus dorsi); (3) pectoralis minor; (4) rhomboid
- DC 5303: Group III. Function: Elevation and abduction of arm to level of shoulder; act with 1 and 2 of Group II in forward and backward swing of arm. Intrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Pectoralis major I (clavicular); (2) deltoid
- DC 5304: Group IV. Function: Stabilization of shoulder against injury in strong movements, holding head of humerus in socket; abduction; outward rotation and inward rotation of arm. Intrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Supraspinatus; (2) infraspinatus and teres minor; (3) subscapularis; (4) coracobrachialis
- DC 5305: Group V. Function: Elbow supination (1) (long head of biceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint); flexion of elbow (1, 2, 3). Flexor muscles of elbow: (1) Biceps; (2) brachialis; (3) brachioradialis
- DC 5306: Group VI. Function: Extension of elbow (long head of triceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint). Extensor muscles of the elbow: (1) Triceps; (2) anconeus
- DC 5307: Group VII. Function: Flexion of wrist and fingers. Muscles arising from internal condyle of humerus: Flexors of the carpus and long flexors of fingers and thumb; pronator
- DC 5308: Group VIII. Function: Extension of wrist, fingers, and thumb; abduction of thumb. Muscles arising mainly from external condyle of humerus: Extensors of carpus, fingers, and thumb; supinator
- DC 5309: Group IX. Function: The forearm muscles act in strong grasping movements and are supplemented by the intrinsic muscles in delicate manipulative movements. Intrinsic muscles of hand: Thenar eminence; short flexor, opponens, abductor and adductor of thumb; hypothenar eminence; short flexor, opponens and abductor of little finger; 4 lumbricales; 4 dorsal and 3 palmar interossei
- DC 5310: Group X. Function: Movements of forefoot and toes; propulsion thrust in walking. Intrinsic muscles of the foot: Plantar: (1) Flexor digitorum brevis; (2) abductor hallucis; (3) abductor digiti minimi; (4) quadratus plantae; (5) lumbricales; (6) flexor hallucis brevis; (7) adductor hallucis; (8) flexor digiti minimi brevis; (9) dorsal and plantar interossei. Other important plantar structures: Plantar aponeurosis, long plantar and calcaneonavicular ligament, tendons of posterior tibial, peroneus longus, and long flexors of great and little toes
- DC 5311: Group XI. Function: Propulsion, plantar flexion of foot (1); stabilization of arch (2, 3); flexion of toes (4, 5); Flexion of knee (6). Posterior and lateral crural muscles, and muscles of the calf: (1) Triceps surae (gastrocnemius and soleus); (2) tibialis posterior; (3) peroneus longus; (4) peroneus brevis; (5) flexor hallucis longus; (6) flexor digitorum longus; (7) popliteus; (8) plantaris
- DC 5312: Group XII. Function: Dorsiflexion (1); extension of toes (2); stabilization of arch (3). Anterior muscles of the leg: (1) Tibialis anterior; (2) extensor digitorum longus; (3) extensor hallucis longus; (4) peroneus tertius
- DC 5313: Group XIII. Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee; outward and inward rotation of flexed knee; acting with rectus femoris and sartorius (see XIV, 1, 2) synchronizing simultaneous flexion of hip and knee and extension of hip and knee by belt-over-pulley action at knee joint. Posterior thigh group, Hamstring complex of 2-joint muscles: (1) Biceps femoris; (2) semimembranosus; (3) semitendinosus
- DC 5314: Group XIV. Function: Extension of knee (2, 3, 4, 5); simultaneous flexion of hip and flexion of knee (1); tension of fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band, acting with XVII (1) in postural support of body (6); acting with hamstrings in synchronizing hip and knee (1, 2). Anterior thigh group: (1) Sartorius; (2) rectus femoris; (3) vastus externus; (4) vastus intermedius; (5) vastus internus; (6) tensor vaginae femoris
- DC 5315: Group XV. Function: Adduction of hip (1, 2, 3, 4); flexion of hip (1, 2); flexion of knee (4). Mesial thigh group: (1) Adductor longus; (2) adductor brevis; (3) adductor magnus; (4) gracilis
- DC 5316: Group XVI. Function: Flexion of hip (1, 2, 3). Pelvic girdle group 1: (1) Psoas; (2) iliacus; (3) pectineus
- DC 5317: Group XVII. Function: Extension of hip (1); abduction of thigh; elevation of opposite side of pelvis (2, 3); tension of fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band, acting with XIV (6) in postural support of body steadying pelvis upon head of femur and condyles of femur on tibia (1). Pelvic girdle group 2: (1) Gluteus maximus; (2) gluteus medius; (3) gluteus minimus
- DC 5318: Group XVIII. Function: Outward rotation of thigh and stabilization of hip joint. Pelvic girdle group 3: (1) Pyriformis; (2) gemellus (superior or inferior); (3) obturator (external or internal); (4) quadratus femoris
- DC 5319: Group XIX. Function: Support and compression of abdominal wall and lower thorax; flexion and lateral motions of spine; synergists in strong downward movements of arm (1). Muscles of the abdominal wall: (1) Rectus abdominis; (2) external oblique; (3) internal oblique; (4) transversalis; (5) quadratus lumborum
- DC 5320: Group XX. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. Spinal muscles: Sacrospinalis (erector spinae and its prolongations in thoracic and cervical regions)
- DC 5321: Group XXI. Function: Respiration. Muscles of respiration: Thoracic muscle group
- DC 5322: Group XXII. Function: Rotary and forward movements of the head; respiration; deglutition. Muscles of the front of the neck: (Lateral, supra-, and infrahyoid group.) (1) Trapezius I (clavicular insertion); (2) sternocleidomastoid; (3) the “hyoid” muscles; (4) sternothyroid; (5) digastric
- DC 5323: Group XXIII. Function: Movements of the head; fixation of shoulder movements. Muscles of the side and back of the neck: Suboccipital; lateral vertebral and anterior vertebral muscles
- DC 5324: Diaphragm, rupture of, with herniation. Rate under diagnostic code 7346
- DC 5325: Muscle injury, facial muscles. Evaluate functional impairment as seventh (facial) cranial nerve neuropathy (diagnostic code 8207), disfiguring scar (diagnostic code 7800), etc. Minimum, if interfering to any extent with mastication-10
- DC 5326: Muscle hernia, extensive. Without other injury to the muscle-10
- DC 5327: Muscle, neoplasm of, malignant (excluding soft tissue sarcoma)-100
- DC 5328: Muscle, neoplasm of, benign, postoperative. Rate on impairment of function, i.e., limitation of motion, or scars, diagnostic code 7805, etc
- DC 5329: Sarcoma, soft tissue (of muscle, fat, or fibrous connective tissue)-100
- DC 5330: Rhabdomyolysis, residuals of
- DC 5331: Compartment syndrome
All Body Systems And Code Index
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Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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