Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can be short-term (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). The VA rates this condition from 10% to 100% based on how severe and active the infection is. Higher ratings go to veterans with infections in critical areas like the spine or pelvis, those with frequent flare-ups that make them sick, or those with complications like anemia or liver problems.
Rating levels
- 100% — You qualify for this rating if your bone infection affects major areas like your pelvis, spine, or has spread into important joints like your hip, knee, or shoulder. You also qualify if the infection has occurred in multiple locations throughout your body, or if you've had a long-term case that won't respond to treatment and causes ongoing problems like severe fatigue, anemia (low red blood cell count), liver damage, or other serious symptoms that affect your whole body.
- 60% — You're having frequent flare-ups of your bone infection (osteomyelitis), and these episodes are making you feel sick throughout your whole body. The constitutional symptoms include things like fever, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, and feeling generally unwell - not just local pain or swelling at the infection site.
- 30% — You qualify for this rating level when your bone infection has caused your body to form new bone tissue around the dead, infected bone (called an involucrum) or has created pieces of dead bone that separate from healthy bone (called a sequestrum). You may or may not have an open wound or tract that drains pus or fluid from the infected area (discharging sinus), but the key requirement is having that definite new bone formation or dead bone pieces that show up on imaging studies.
- 20% — You qualify for this rating if you have had a discharging sinus (an abnormal channel or opening in your skin that drains pus or other fluid) or other clear signs that your bone infection was still active at some point within the past 5 years. The infection doesn't have to be active right now, but there must be medical evidence showing it was active sometime during those 5 years.
- 10% — You qualify for this rating if you have osteomyelitis (a bone infection) that is currently inactive but you've had multiple flare-ups in the past. To meet this criteria, your bone infection must show no signs of being active or spreading for at least 5 years, meaning no current symptoms like pain, swelling, drainage, or fever from the infection.