Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
This diagnostic code covers injuries or problems with your clavicle (collarbone) or scapula (shoulder blade). The VA rates these conditions based on how well the bones healed after injury. A 20% rating is given when there's 'loose movement' - meaning the bone moves abnormally or feels unstable. A 10% rating applies when the bone healed improperly (malunion), causing ongoing issues but without the loose movement.
Rating levels
- 20% — Your collarbone (clavicle) or shoulder blade (scapula) has been knocked out of its normal position and stays that way. This means the bone is permanently displaced from where it should normally sit, not just temporarily injured or fractured.
- 20% — Your collarbone (clavicle) or shoulder blade (scapula) has been knocked out of its normal position and stays that way. This means the bone is permanently displaced from where it should normally sit, not just temporarily injured or fractured.
- 20% — Your clavicle (collarbone) or scapula (shoulder blade) broke but the bone pieces never properly healed back together (nonunion), and now they move around loosely when you use your arm or shoulder. This creates ongoing instability and abnormal movement in the bone that should be solid and fixed in place.
- 20% — Your clavicle (collarbone) or scapula (shoulder blade) broke but the bone pieces never properly healed back together (nonunion), and now they move around loosely when you use your arm or shoulder. This creates ongoing instability and abnormal movement in the bone that should be solid and fixed in place.
- 10% — Your collarbone (clavicle) or shoulder blade (scapula) has a nonunion, which means a broken bone that has healed incorrectly and the bone pieces never properly fused back together. However, the broken bone pieces are stable and don't move around loosely when you use your arm or shoulder.
- 10% — Your collarbone (clavicle) or shoulder blade (scapula) has a nonunion, which means a broken bone that has healed incorrectly and the bone pieces never properly fused back together. However, the broken bone pieces are stable and don't move around loosely when you use your arm or shoulder.
- 10% — A broken collarbone (clavicle) or shoulder blade (scapula) that either failed to heal back together properly (nonunion) or healed in the wrong position (malunion) qualifies for this rating. This includes bones that remain separated at the break site or bones that fused together crookedly, causing visible deformity or ongoing pain and stiffness in the shoulder area.
- 10% — A broken collarbone (clavicle) or shoulder blade (scapula) that either failed to heal back together properly (nonunion) or healed in the wrong position (malunion) qualifies for this rating. This includes bones that remain separated at the break site or bones that fused together crookedly, causing visible deformity or ongoing pain and stiffness in the shoulder area.