Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Elbow and forearm
DC 5212, radius, impairment of, is rated by the level below that matches your condition; the dominant (major) arm is rated higher than the non-dominant (minor) arm at the upper levels. The levels: Nonunion in lower half, with false movement, with loss of bone substance (1 inch (2.5 cms.) or more) and marked deformity: 40% for the dominant arm, 30% for the non-dominant arm. Nonunion in lower half, with false movement, without loss of bone substance or deformity: 30% for the dominant arm, 20% for the non-dominant arm. Nonunion in upper half: 20% for either arm. Malunion of, with bad alignment: 10% for either arm.
Rating levels
- 40% — Your radius bone (the larger bone in your forearm on the thumb side) has broken in the lower half near your wrist and the broken pieces have failed to heal back together (nonunion), creating abnormal movement where the break occurred (false movement). You must have lost at least 1 inch of actual bone material and have obvious visible deformity of your forearm shape.
- 30% — The bones in the lower half of your radius (the bone on the thumb side of your forearm) have failed to heal properly after a fracture, creating a "false joint" where the broken pieces move abnormally against each other (nonunion with false movement). You've lost at least one inch of actual bone material, and your forearm has significant visible deformity or abnormal shape. This results in substantial functional problems with your arm and hand movement.
- 30% — Your radius bone (the larger bone on the thumb side of your forearm) has a fracture in the lower half near your wrist that never healed properly, creating a nonunion (the broken bone ends don't connect). This causes false movement (abnormal bending or wobbling where the break is) when you move your arm, but there's no missing bone pieces or visible bent/twisted shape to your forearm.
- 20% — Your radius bone (the larger bone in your forearm on the thumb side) has broken in the lower half near your wrist and the broken pieces have not grown back together properly (nonunion). The broken ends move abnormally when you use your arm (false movement), but there is no missing bone and the arm doesn't look deformed. This creates ongoing pain and functional problems with wrist and forearm movement.
- 20% — Your radius (the forearm bone on the thumb side) broke in its upper half, the part nearer the elbow, and the break never healed back together (nonunion).
- 20% — Your radius (the forearm bone on the thumb side) broke in its upper half, the part nearer the elbow, and the break never healed back together (nonunion).
- 10% — Your radius (the forearm bone on the thumb side) healed after a break, but it healed in the wrong position (malunion), leaving the bone out of line.
- 10% — Your radius (the forearm bone on the thumb side) healed after a break, but it healed in the wrong position (malunion), leaving the bone out of line.