Range of Motion by Rating

Direct answer

The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities ties specific range-of-motion (ROM) measurements to assigned percentages across the major joints. The operative ROM-based diagnostic codes in the sources provided cover the shoulder, elbow/forearm, wrist, hand/digits, spine, hip/thigh, knee, and ankle. The spine DCs (5235–5243) all share a single General Rating Formula, while the extremity joints each have their own ROM-specific codes.

Analysis

Shoulder (Arm)

DC 5201 — Arm, limitation of motion of [24]

DC 5200 — Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis of [27]

Elbow / Forearm

DC 5206 — Forearm, limitation of flexion of [34]

DC 5207 — Forearm, limitation of extension of [35]

DC 5208 — Forearm, flexion limited to 100° and extension to 45° [33]

Wrist

DC 5215 — Wrist, limitation of motion of [37]

DC 5214 — Wrist, ankylosis of [49]

Hand / Digits

DC 5228 — Thumb, limitation of motion [42]

DC 5229 — Index or long finger, limitation of motion [41]

DC 5230 — Ring or little finger, limitation of motion [40]

Spine — General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine

This formula applies to DCs 5235 through 5243 (unless 5243 is evaluated under the incapacitating-episodes formula) [18][36][38][39][43][44][45][46][47]:

Hip / Thigh

DC 5252 — Thigh, limitation of flexion of [29]

DC 5251 — Thigh, limitation of extension of [31]

DC 5250 — Hip, ankylosis of [52]

Knee / Leg

DC 5260 — Leg, limitation of flexion of [16]

DC 5261 — Leg, limitation of extension of [17]

DC 5256 — Knee, ankylosis of [48]

Ankle

DC 5271 — Ankle, limited motion of [32]

Key points

• Spine formula is shared across many DCs. DCs 5235 (vertebral fracture), 5236 (sacroiliac injury), 5237 (lumbosacral/cervical strain), 5238 (spinal stenosis), 5239 (spondylolisthesis), 5240 (ankylosing spondylitis), 5241 (spinal fusion), 5242 (deenerative arthritis), and 5243 (intervertebral disc syndrome) all use the same General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, which keys primarily on forward flexion and combined ROM measurements [18][36][38][39][43][44][45][46][47].

• Post-traumatic arthritis (DC 5010) is rated by reference to the affected joint's limitation-of-motion code. Where two or more joints are affected, each rating is combined under § 4.25 [7]. This means the ROM tables above (e.g., DC 5260, 5201, 5252) are the operative rating criteria for post-traumatic arthritic joints as well.

• Prosthetic replacements have their own ROM-linked tiers. For knee replacement (DC 5055), intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion are rated "by analogy to diagnostic codes 5256, 5261, or 5262" [23]. For shoulder replacement (DC 5051), intermediate residuals are rated "by analogy to diagnostic codes 5200 and 5203" [28]. For hip replacement (DC 5054), resurfacing is evaluated under DCs 5250 through 5255 after the 100% convalescent period [30].

• The 10% spine tier includes non-ROM criteria. Even without meeting a specific ROM threshold, a veteran may qualify for 10% based on muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness (not causing abnormal gait or contour), or vertebral body fracture with stated height loss [36][39][43].

• Ankylosis codes complement limitation-of-motion codes. Where a joint is fused rather than merely limited, the ankylosis DC (e.g., DC 5200 shoulder, DC 5214 wrist, DC 5250 hip, DC 5256 knee) provides the rating, with the degree of unfavorable positioning determining the percentage [27][49][52][48].