VA Disability Rating for Forearm Limitation of Extension
Diagnostic Code 5207 · 38 CFR §4.71a
What Is It?
DC 5207 rates limitation of elbow extension, which is your ability to straighten your arm fully. Normal elbow extension is 0 degrees, meaning a completely straight arm. When extension is limited, you cannot fully straighten your elbow, which affects reaching, carrying objects at your side, and many work tasks. The rating depends on how many degrees short of full extension your elbow reaches. The schedule prints six steps — extension limited to 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 100° and 110° — each with a major (dominant) and a minor (non-dominant) figure. The two lowest steps, 45° and 60°, are both 10 percent for either arm, and there is no 0 percent row. Veterans commonly lose elbow extension from fractures that heal with bone spurs, dislocations, burn contractures, or surgical complications during service.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 50% | Extension limited to 110° — major (dominant) arm. |
| 40% | Extension limited to 110° — minor (non-dominant) arm. Also: extension limited to 100° — major (dominant) arm. |
| 30% | Extension limited to 100° — minor (non-dominant) arm. Also: extension limited to 90° — major (dominant) arm. |
| 20% | Extension limited to 90° — minor (non-dominant) arm. Also: extension limited to 75° — either arm. |
| 10% | Extension limited to 60°, or to 45° — either arm. This is the minimum DC 5207 prints. |
Evidence Needed
- Goniometer measurements showing elbow extension deficit
- Medical records documenting the cause of limited extension
- Imaging showing bone spurs, malunion, or other structural causes
- Documentation of dominant arm
- Records of functional limitations from inability to straighten the arm
C&P Exam Tips
- Ensure the examiner measures the specific degree at which extension stops
- Describe how the inability to straighten your arm affects carrying, reaching, and work
- Request measurement after repetitive motion
- Confirm your dominant arm is documented
- Mention if the extension deficit worsens during flare-ups
How to File
File under DC 5207 for limitation of elbow extension. Precise measurements are critical. Remember that you can receive separate ratings for both limited flexion and limited extension of the same elbow, so make sure both are measured.
Common Mistakes
- Not getting separate ratings for limited flexion and limited extension of the same elbow.
- Imprecise measurements that miss a rating threshold by one degree.
- Not documenting the functional impact of not being able to straighten the arm.
- Missing bone spurs on imaging that explain the extension loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when my extension is limited to 45 degrees?
It means your elbow cannot straighten past 45 degrees of flexion. In practical terms, your arm stays noticeably bent even when you try to straighten it completely. The higher the number, the more bent your arm remains and the higher the rating.
Can I combine DC 5206 and DC 5207 ratings?
Often, yes. Limited flexion (DC 5206) and limited extension (DC 5207) of the same elbow can be rated separately and combined under 38 CFR 4.25, so long as the two ratings do not compensate the same loss twice (38 CFR 4.14). DC 5208 separately prints 20 percent where flexion is limited to 100° and extension to 45°.