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Forearm Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5212 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5212 |
Forearm Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5212 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5212 across 7 severity tiers (60% / 50% / 40% / 30% / 20%…). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Residual pain and limited rotation from a healed radius or ulna fracture in the forearm affecting wrist and elbow function
RATING CRITERIA (7 LEVELS)
60%
DC 5210 "Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint" = 60% Major / 50% Minor (verbatim § 4.71a DC 5210); DC 5211 Major "Ulna, impairment of: Nonunion in upper half, with false movement: With loss of bone substance (1 inch / 2.5 cm or more) and marked deformity" = 60% Major; DC 5212 Major "Radius nonunion lower half with bone loss" = 60% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
50%
DC 5210 Minor = 50%; DC 5211 Minor "Ulna upper-half nonunion with bone loss" = 50%; DC 5211 Major "Ulna upper-half nonunion without bone loss" = 50%; DC 5212 Minor "Radius nonunion lower half with bone loss" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
40%
DC 5211 Minor "Ulna upper-half nonunion without bone loss" = 40%; DC 5211 Major "Ulna lower-half nonunion" = 40%; DC 5212 Major "Radius lower-half nonunion without bone loss" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
30%
DC 5211 "Ulna lower-half nonunion" = 30% Minor; DC 5211 "Ulna malunion with bad alignment" = 30% Major; DC 5212 "Radius upper-half nonunion" = 30% Major; DC 5212 "Radius malunion with bad alignment" = 30% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
20%
DC 5211 / 5212 Minor variants for malunion / lesser nonunion = 20%; DC 5213 "Hand fixed near middle of arc" = 20% Major; DC 5206 "Flexion limited to 90°" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
10%
DC 5206 "Flexion limited to 100° or 110°" = 10%; DC 5207 "Extension limited to 60°" = 10%; DC 5213 Minor variants = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback with painful motion / palpable forearm nonunion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Forearm fracture fully healed with normal ROM at elbow + wrist + forearm rotation, no nonunion / malunion findings on imaging, no painful-motion residuals.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026