If you have pain in one or both elbows due to your service, you deserve VA compensation. The elbow pain you’re experiencing may be caused by a variety of conditions and injuries the VA recognizes as disabling.
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This article explains elbow pain VA ratings, some of the most common conditions that can cause elbow pain, and how the VA rates these conditions.
In this article about the elbow pain VA rating:
Elbow conditions in veterans
Whether you are thinking about it or not, you use your elbow joints and forearms almost constantly throughout the day. They’re essential to driving a car, waving hello, playing sports, and performing many tasks at work. These seemingly simple movements become a lot harder if you have elbow pain or loss of range of motion in the joint.
If your elbow pain is related to an in-service injury or a related condition you developed because of service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation.
Elbow pain is fairly common, affecting between 5-8% of the population, and is often caused by disease, overuse, injury, or trauma to the joint, muscles and tendons that help the joint move. Many sports, hobbies, and jobs require repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movement – being in the military is no different.
Due to the strenuous nature of military life, from training to combat, veterans may be prone to developing elbow conditions during service or later in life.
Elbow pain VA rating
Elbow pain VA ratings primarily depend on how limited your range of motion is and what is causing the pain. Below is an overview of some of the causes of elbow pain and how the VA rates different elbow conditions.
VA disability rating for elbow nerve damage
If the ulnar nerve, the nerve running from the shoulder through the fingers, is damaged or compressed in the elbow, you can develop what’s called cubital tunnel syndrome.
Also known as ulnar nerve entrapment, cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve running through the inside of the elbow is injured. The nerve can become inflamed and irritated, causing elbow pain, numbness, or tingling
Damage to the ulnar nerve is rated under diagnostic code 8516. Below is the VA elbow rating chart. You’ll notice elbow nerve damage that affects the dominant (major) side of your body is given a higher rating than if it affects your non-dominant (minor) side.
| Description | VA Rating (major/minor) | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Complete; the “griffin claw” deformity, due to flexor contraction of ring and little fingers, atrophy very marked in dorsal interspace and thenar and hypothenar eminences; loss of extension of ring and little fingers cannot spread the fingers (or reverse), cannot adduct the thumb; flexion of wrist weakened | 60% / 50% | $1,395.93 / $1,102.04 |
| Incomplete: | ||
| Severe | 40% / 30% | $774.16 / $537.42 |
| Moderate | 30% / 20% | $537.42 / $346.95 |
| Mild | 10% / 10% | $175.51 / $175.51 |
VA disability rating for elbow bursitis
Due to repeated trauma to the elbows from crawling and outdoor training, bursitis in the elbow is common among combat veterans, although non-combat veterans can be affected, too.
The VA rates elbow bursitis using diagnostic codes 5205-5212. The specific diagnostic code the VA uses to rate your condition depends on how your bursitis affects the range of motion in your elbow and forearm.
Range of motion is measured by flexion and extension of the forearm. Flexion refers to the movement that causes the angle between two bones of a joint to decrease, such as bending your elbow joint. Extension is the movement that causes the angle between two bones of the joint to increase, such as straightening your elbow joint.
Regardless of the diagnostic code used, your elbow bursitis rating will be higher if your condition affects your dominant side versus your non-dominant side.
Loss of elbow or elbow replacement
Some veterans with elbow pain and loss of range of motion may have elbow replacement surgery. The VA rates an elbow replacement based on the presence and severity of chronic painful motion and loss of range of motion following the surgery.
The VA rates elbow replacement under diagnostic code 5052. In the ratings chart below, you’ll see that the VA assigns a 100% rating for the first year following the surgery, regardless of the side of the body affected.
| Description | VA Rating (major/minor) | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Prosthetic replacement of the elbow joint: | ||
| For 1 year following implantation of prosthesis | 100% / 100% | $3,831.30 |
| With chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity | 50% / 40% | $1,102.04 / $774.16 |
| Minimum evaluation | 30% / 20% | $537.42 / $346.95 |
If you experience intermediate degrees of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion following an elbow replacement, the VA will rate your condition using diagnostic codes 5205 through 5208.
Elbow pain and other related conditions
Military occupations, combat, and even training puts veterans at a high risk of elbow pain. In addition to the conditions we discussed above, a fall, blow to the elbow, or repetitive movement of the elbow joint can lead to these potentially compensable conditions:
- Elbow fracture
- Arthritis
- Tennis elbow
- Gout in the elbow
Regardless of the elbow condition you are seeking benefits for, you will need to be prepared to prove the issue is connected to your service. You should also provide medical records, statements, and other evidence that shows the severity of your condition.
Elbow pain and the bilateral factor
The bilateral factor is used to further compensate veterans with disabilities on both sides of their body. If you have tennis elbow in both elbows, for example, it becomes a lot more difficult for one elbow to compensate for the other.
To help veterans in this situation, ratings for disabilities in each elbow will first be evaluated and combined as usual. Then, 10% of the value of the combined rating will be added (not combined) before proceeding with further combinations. The bilateral factor essentially raises a combined disability rating by 10% in cases where both elbows are partially disabled in order to compensate for the additional hardship of bilateral disabilities.
DBQ for elbow and forearm conditions
Disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs) are forms available to the public that help collect the information necessary to process your disability claim. DBQs should always be filled out by a medical professional.
The DBQ for elbow and forearm conditions covers every aspect of your condition including:
- Your specific diagnosis
- What side of the body your condition affects
- Your symptoms and their severity
- Your medical history
- Your range of motion and functional limitations
- Surgeries you’ve had to treat your elbow condition
After your healthcare provider fills out the form, submit it to the VA for consideration. Oftentimes, VA examiners will use your DBQ to help guide your compensation and pension exam (C&P exam).
TDIU for elbow pain and conditions
Pain in the elbow and limited range of motion has the potential to make it extremely difficult to work and earn an income. If your elbow pain has gotten so bad that you are unable to lift objects, perform your job duties, or operate machinery at work, you may qualify for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
TDIU is a benefit reserved for veterans that are unable to work due to a service-connected disability, but did not receive a 100% disability rating.
To be eligible for TDIU, you must meet the following criteria:
- You have one service-connected disability rated at least 60%
- OR you have two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one disability rated 40% or more, with a combined rating of 70% or more
If your elbow condition VA disability rating alone doesn’t qualify for TDIU, it could help contribute to TDIU.
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Get Your TDIU Pay Chart
Download and print this free pay chart of TDIU monthly payments. We know what it takes to win Total Disability because of Individual Unemployability. This chart details the monthly payment that veterans get when they win IU for their VA disability claim.
How Woods and Woods can help
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Elbow pain VA ratings will primarily depend on how limited your range of motion is and what is causing the pain. Ratings for elbow pain and conditions can range from 10% to 100% disabling. Higher ratings are typically given when the elbow condition affects the dominant side of the body.
Pain and limited range of motion of the elbow and forearm can be caused by repetitive movements of the elbow and forearm, trauma to the elbow, arthritis, gout, tendonitis, bursitis, ulnar nerve damage, and more.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
