You deserve VA compensation if you have tendonitis because of your military service. Tendonitis can occur in various parts of the body where muscle connects bone, limiting your ability to move properly and comfortably. This post explains VA ratings for tendonitis.
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You don’t remember exactly when the pain and discomfort started, but now it seems like it hurts nonstop. The affected part of your body radiates pain, you’re stiff, and movement causes pain and noises that weren’t there before. You may have tendonitis. If you do, and it’s connected to your military service, you deserve disability compensation. This post explains the various VA tendonitis ratings and what veterans can do if they can’t work because of their service-connected pain and limited range of motion.
In this article about the tendonitis VA rating:
What is tendonitis?
Tendonitis, sometimes spelled tendinitis, is when tendons — the tissue cords that connect muscles to bones — become inflamed. Tendonitis can happen anywhere in the body. When it occurs, it results in swelling, pain, and discomfort, especially when using the affected part of the body.
Typical causes of tendonitis include:
- Injury or overuse
- Playing sports
- Aging and a loss of elasticity
- Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes
Doctors can treat tendonitis by reducing movement (sometimes with a splint), injections, medication, and, in severe cases, surgery.
If left untreated, tendonitis can make the tendon more prone to tears or rupturing, which requires surgery and can result in a permanent disability.
Tendonitis in veterans
Research has found that veterans may be more likely than the general population to develop certain kinds of tendonitis, specifically in the lower extremities. Achilles tendonitis, which is damage to the tendon that connects the calf muscle and heel bone, has been found to be more common among veterans.
Veterans are more likely to experience tendonitis because of the strenuous activity in training and combat. Tendonitis typically isn’t a long-term condition, but it can return repeatedly if not properly treated and healed, making it a chronic issue.
If you have tendonitis related to your military service, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits as a result.
Tendonitis VA rating
The VA rates tendonitis under diagnostic code 5024, which uses the criteria for degenerative arthritis. This diagnostic code calls for the veteran’s condition to be rated based on the limitation of range of motion in the affected joint, meaning a wide range of codes and criteria can be used.
However, if a veteran has tendonitis in their wrist, for example, but does not meet the rating criteria codes 5214-5215, they should still receive a rating of 10% or 20% for tendonitis if X-ray findings show the condition.
If this feels confusing, that’s because it can be. We share some examples below of how the VA rates tendonitis in different areas of the body.
Achilles tendonitis VA rating
As described above, Achilles tendonitis is one of the more common forms of tendonitis found in veterans. It’s damage to the tendon that connects the calf muscle and heel bone. The VA rates Achilles tendonitis based on how it limits motion in the ankle with diagnostic codes 5270 and 5271.
5270 Ankle, ankylosis of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| In plantar flexion at more than 40°, or in dorsiflexion at more than 10° or with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity | 40% | $774.16 |
| In plantar flexion, between 30° and 40°, or in dorsiflexion, between 0° and 10° | 30% | $537.42 |
5271 Ankle, limited motion of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Marked (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion) | 20% | $346.95 |
| Moderate (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion) | 10% | $175.51 |
To understand the difference between plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, see the diagram below:
VA disability rating for ankle tendonitis
Ankle tendonitis is inflammation in the tendons that connect your leg to your foot. The condition can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness around the ankle and foot. The VA rates ankle tendonitis with diagnostic codes 5270-5271, depending on your range of motion. This rating is either 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40%, depending on how the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle are affected. The diagnostic criteria for these codes can be found above – they are the same as Achilles tendonitis.
Patellar tendonitis VA rating (knee)
Patellar tendonitis is damage to the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone. It causes knee pain, swelling, and stiffness. The VA rates knee tendonitis with diagnostic codes 5256, 5260, and 5261, depending on the range of motion in your leg. These codes consider flexion and extension at the knee.
5256 Knee, ankylosis of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Extremely unfavorable, in flexion at an angle of 45° or more | 60% | $1,395.93 |
| In flexion between 20° and 45° | 50% | $1,102.04 |
| In flexion between 10° and 20° | 40% | $774.16 |
| Favorable angle in full extension, or in slight flexion between 0° and 10° | 30% | $537.42 |
5260 Leg, limitation of flexion of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion limited to 15° | 30% | $537.42 |
| Flexion limited to 30° | 20% | $346.95 |
| Flexion limited to 45° | 10% | $175.51 |
| Flexion limited to 60° | 0% | None |
5261 Leg, limitation of extension of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Extension limited to 45° | 50% | $1,102.04 |
| Extension limited to 30° | 40% | $774.16 |
| Extension limited to 20° | 30% | $537.42 |
| Extension limited to 15° | 20% | $346.95 |
| Extension limited to 10° | 10% | $175.51 |
| Extension limited to 5° | 0% | None |
Elbow tendonitis VA rating
Elbow tendonitis is inflammation that causes pain in the elbow and arm. It’s also called “tennis elbow” or “golf elbow.” It can cause pain around the inside or outside of your elbow, stiffness, and pain up your forearm or down into your wrist.
The criteria for elbow tendonitis disability ratings can be found under the musculoskeletal system section of the Schedule of Ratings in diagnostic codes 5206, 5207, and 5208.
Depending on specifically where in the arm the pain and limited motion are and which arm is affected, these ratings can range between 10% and 50%.
5206 Forearm, limitation of flexion of:
| Description | Major / Minor |
|---|---|
| Flexion limited to 45° | 50% / 40% |
| Flexion limited to 55° | 40% / 30% |
| Flexion limited to 70° | 30% / 20% |
| Flexion limited to 90° | 20% / 20% |
| Flexion limited to 100° | 10% / 10% |
| Flexion limited to 110° | 0% / 0% |
5207 Forearm, limitation of extension of:
| Description | Major/Minor |
|---|---|
| Extension limited to 110° | 50% / 40% |
| Extension limited to 100° | 40% / 30% |
| Extension limited to 90° | 30% / 20% |
| Extension limited to 75° | 20% / 20% |
| Extension limited to 60° | 10% / 10% |
| Extension limited to 45° | 10% / 10% |
Diagnostic code 5208 rates at 20% regardless of whether the affected arm is the veteran’s major (dominant or writing) arm or minor arm when flexion is limited to 100° and extension to 45°.
Shoulder tendonitis VA disability rating
Shoulder tendonitis is inflammation in your rotator cuff or biceps that causes pain, especially when you lift your arm over your head. The VA rates shoulder tendonitis under diagnostic codes 5200-5203 based on the loss of range of motion. These ratings can be between 10% all the way up to 80%, depending on what part of the shoulder is affected and how much your range of motion is limited.
VA disability rating for tendonitis in the wrist
Tendonitis in the wrist is inflammation of the tendons in the wrist. It causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and sometimes even a creaking or grinding noise when you bend your wrist.
Tendonitis in the wrist is rated based on how much pain you’re in and how well you can move your wrist. Under diagnostic codes 5214 or 5215, the minimum rating for tendonitis is 10% but can be rated as high as 50% based on the severity of symptoms and how limited the range of motion in your wrist is. You will earn a higher rating if tendonitis affects your major (dominant) wrist. This would typically be the hand you write with.
5214 Wrist, ankylosis of:
| Description | Major/Minor |
|---|---|
| Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation | 50% / 40% |
| Any other position, except favorable | 40% / 30% |
| Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion | 30% / 20% |
5215 Wrist, limitation of motion of:
| Description | Major/Minor |
|---|---|
| Dorsiflexion less than 15° | 10% / 10% |
| Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm | 10% / 10% |
Bilateral tendonitis
Bilateral tendonitis means you have tendon damage that affects both sides of your upper or lower body. When this occurs, the VA applies the “bilateral factor” to your condition. The bilateral factor exists because disabilities that affect both sides of the body can be far more limiting.
The bilateral factor combines ratings for any disabilities on either side of the body but also adds 10% of the value of this combined rating. The condition must affect the upper or lower portion of the body on both sides. For example, tendonitis in the right ankle and left knee or both wrists would warrant the bilateral factor. However, tendonitis in the left elbow and right ankle would not qualify for the bilateral factor.
Because VA math requires a veteran’s overall rating to be rounded, there are circumstances in which applying the bilateral factor could push a veteran’s rating to the next highest compensation level.
If you need help figuring out VA ratings with the bilateral factor, you can use our helpful VA disability ratings calculator.
TDIU for tendonitis
In some cases, a veteran can be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for conditions affecting the joints, like tendonitis. Veterans are eligible for this benefit if they can’t obtain substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected conditions. TDIU may be granted for tendonitis alone or may be granted based on the combined effects of multiple service-connected conditions.
Tendonitis can leave a veteran in frequent pain and discomfort and with limited movement in parts of the body. Depending on where tendonitis is present, it may keep them from performing work-related tasks like walking, standing for long periods, lifting, moving their arms, or sitting for long periods. It may also make rote tasks like typing, writing, and answering the phone difficult. Pain and discomfort may also cause sleep issues, affecting mood.
When veterans apply for and are granted TDIU, they are compensated at the 100% disability rating level even though their condition is rated below 100%.
Veterans are typically considered eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
“From the day we contacted [Woods and Woods], they made us feel so comfortable. They treated us like we mattered and we were not just clients but family.”
L.B., a Navy veteran and wife in Florida
How our VA-accredited attorneys can help
If you have a service-connected condition that affects your ability to live and work, you deserve your full VA disability compensation. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation to see how we can help. You only pay us if we win.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you can. You’ll need to service-connect the tendonitis or prove that your military service worsened an existing condition. Then, the condition will be rated based on how it limits your range of motion in the affected part or parts of the body.
The disability rating for tendonitis depends on how it limits your range of motion. The rating can be anywhere from 0% up to TDIU, depending on the severity of symptoms and affected part of the body, and can also qualify for the bilateral factor in some cases.
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.
