C&P Exam Prep Guide for Ribs, removal of (DC 5297)

Read the C&P exam preparation guideWhat happens at the exam, what 38 CFR Part 4 requires the examiner to record, and what to bring.
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Diagnostic code: 5297Condition: Ribs, removal ofRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Bones and Other Skeletal Conditions

YOUR EXAM BLUEPRINT

Ribs, removal of

Review the DBQ, the examination focus, functional impact, and the evidence supporting the 38 CFR Part 4 rating criteria for DC 5297.

DC 5297

DBQ used for this condition

What the examination is likely to focus on

No condition-specific items are currently available.

Functional-impact topics to describe

No condition-specific items are currently available.

This blueprint is preparation guidance, not a prediction of the examination or claim outcome.RateMyVSO.net

Which form the examiner uses

For ribs, removal of (DC 5297), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

What the examiner records (full DBQ form)

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

This DBQ evaluates skeletal conditions including skull fracture or loss, costochondritis, rib fracture, rib resection, bone neoplasm, and coccyx removal, documenting diagnosis, history, condition-specific findings, assistive-device use, functional impairment, and imaging.

DIAGNOSIS (Section I)
  • 1A. List the claimed condition(s) that pertain to this questionnaire.
  • 1B. Diagnosis (check all that apply, with ICD code, date, and laterality where applicable): Skull fracture; Skull loss; Costochondritis; Rib fracture; Rib resection; Bone neoplasm, malignant; Bone neoplasm, benign; Coccyx removal; Other diagnoses
MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II)
  • 2A. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's skeletal condition(s).
SKULL LOSS (Section III)
  • Area of skull loss (small/intermediate/large)
RIBS (Section IV)
  • Rib removal/resection description, quantity of ribs removed or resected, with or without painful residuals
NEOPLASM (Section V)
  • Neoplasm present (yes/no), type (benign/malignant), malignancy status (active/remission), primary vs. secondary, primary site if secondary, treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, other) with dates, residuals or complications
OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS (Section VI)
  • Other pertinent findings (yes/no), findings description
ASSISTIVE DEVICES (Section VII)
  • Assistive device usage (wheelchair, braces, crutches, canes, walker, other), frequency (occasional/regular/constant), which condition the device relates to
FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT (Section VIII)
  • Functional impairment of the extremities (right/left, upper/lower), description of loss of function
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (Section IX)
  • Imaging studies performed (bone scan, X-ray, MRI, biopsy), test dates and results

Rating Levels for DC 5297

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

Evidence cited in published BVA decisions for DC 5297

The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code, among issues the Board granted or denied (remanded issues are not included). Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.

  • Service treatment records: appeared in 194 granted decisions (424 denied; 618 decided total)
  • Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 118 granted decisions (254 denied; 372 decided total)
  • Medical literature: appeared in 7 granted decisions (19 denied; 26 decided total)

When the Board found the exam inadequate (DC 5297)

In 304 published Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions involving this condition, the Board found a C&P examination or medical opinion inadequate. Where the defect could be read from the decision, it was most often one of the following (counts are a floor from the decisions on file, not a total):

  1. 74 Failed to address a contention or part of the condition
  2. 51 Veteran's lay statements not considered
  3. 49 Conclusion given without a supporting rationale
  4. 25 Opinion relied on the absence of records instead of the evidence
  5. 13 Claims file or records not reviewed
  6. 11 Examiner said an opinion would require speculation
  7. 9 Flare-ups or functional loss not addressed

An inadequate exam is usually sent back for a new one rather than decided against the veteran. This is a factual report of published decisions, not advice about any exam or claim; whether an exam is adequate is decided case by case.

View the full DC 5297 pageSearch BVA decisions for this codeAbout DBQ forms

Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.