Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
This diagnostic code covers conditions where you can't bend your elbow normally - specifically when your ability to flex (bend) your forearm toward your upper arm is limited. The VA rates this based on how many degrees you can bend your elbow, measured with a tool called a goniometer. A normal elbow bends about 140-150 degrees, so even the 0% rating (limited to 110 degrees) recognizes some loss of function, while a 40% rating means you can only bend your elbow halfway to a right angle.
Rating levels
- 50% — You can only bend your forearm up to 45 degrees (less than halfway to your chest). Normal forearm flexion allows you to bend your arm about 150 degrees, so this rating applies when you've lost most of your ability to bend your forearm at the elbow joint.
- 40% — You can only bend your forearm up to 45 degrees at the elbow joint (flexion means bending a joint to bring two body parts closer together). This is a significant limitation since a normal elbow can bend to about 140-150 degrees, so you're only able to achieve about one-third of normal bending motion.
- 40% — You can only bend your forearm up to 55 degrees (flexion is the bending motion that brings your hand toward your shoulder). Normal forearm flexion is about 150 degrees, so this represents significant limitation where you can barely bend your elbow past a right angle.
- 30% — You can only bend your forearm up to 55 degrees (flexion means bending a joint to bring two body parts closer together). A normal forearm should be able to bend much further - typically around 140-150 degrees - so this represents a significant limitation in your ability to bend your forearm at the elbow.
- 30% — You can only bend your forearm up to 70 degrees (flexion means bending a joint to bring two body parts closer together). A normal forearm can bend about 150 degrees, so this rating applies when your range of motion is significantly limited to less than half of what's considered normal.
- 20% — You can only bend your forearm up to 70 degrees (flexion means bending a joint toward your body). A normal forearm should be able to bend about 150 degrees, so this rating applies when your range of motion is significantly limited to less than half of what's considered normal.
- 20% — You can only bend your elbow to 90 degrees (a right angle, like making an "L" shape with your arm). This means you cannot fully flex (bend) your elbow to bring your hand all the way up to your shoulder like a normal arm would do.
- 20% — You can only bend your elbow to 90 degrees (a right angle, like making an "L" shape with your arm). This means you cannot fully flex (bend) your elbow to bring your hand all the way up to your shoulder like a normal arm would do.
- 10% — Your elbow can only bend to 100 degrees or less. Normal elbow flexion (bending your arm up toward your shoulder) should reach about 140-150 degrees, so this rating applies when your elbow is significantly limited and you can't bring your hand close to your shoulder like you should be able to.
- 10% — Your elbow can only bend to 100 degrees or less. Normal elbow flexion (bending your arm up toward your shoulder) should reach about 140-150 degrees, so this rating applies when your elbow is significantly limited and you can't bring your hand close to your shoulder like you should be able to.
- 0% — You can only bend your forearm up to 110 degrees (flexion means bending a joint toward your body). A normal forearm should be able to bend about 145-150 degrees, so this rating applies when you've lost some bending ability but can still move your forearm through most of its normal range of motion.
- 0% — You can only bend your forearm up to 110 degrees (flexion means bending a joint toward your body). A normal forearm should be able to bend about 145-150 degrees, so this rating applies when you've lost some bending ability but can still move your forearm through most of its normal range of motion.