Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Bones and Other Skeletal Conditions
This diagnostic code covers situations where you've had one or more ribs surgically removed, typically due to injury, cancer, or other medical conditions. The VA rates this condition based purely on how many ribs were removed - from 10% for one rib up to 50% for more than six ribs. The ratings recognize that losing ribs affects your chest wall stability, breathing capacity, and overall physical function, with higher ratings for more extensive rib removal.
Rating levels
- 50% — You qualify for this rating if you have had more than six ribs surgically removed. The VA considers the removal of this many ribs to significantly impact your breathing capacity and chest wall stability, which affects your ability to perform physical activities.
- 40% — You qualify for this rating if you have had five or six ribs surgically removed. The rating is based on the specific number of ribs that were completely taken out during surgery, not ribs that were partially removed or just damaged.
- 30% — You qualify for this rating if you've had three or four ribs surgically removed. The removal must be complete ribs, not just portions of ribs, and this rating applies regardless of which specific ribs were removed or why the surgery was necessary.
- 20% — You qualify for this rating if you have had two of your ribs surgically removed. The VA rates rib removal based on the specific number of ribs that were taken out during surgery, regardless of which ribs or the reason they were removed.
- 10% — You qualify for this rating if you've had one rib completely removed, or two or more ribs surgically removed (resection means surgical removal), and the ribs haven't grown back naturally (regeneration). The key requirement is that the removed rib or ribs must be permanently gone - not just partially removed or temporarily damaged.