EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Olecranon Bursitis
DC 5019 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5019 |
Olecranon Bursitis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5019 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5019 across 6 severity tiers (50% / 40% / 30% / 20% / 10%…). 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
Inflammation and swelling of the bursa sac at the olecranon (tip of the elbow) causing pain and limited elbow motion
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
50%
Rate under joint-specific DC: DC 5206 Major arm "Flexion limited to 45°" = 50%; DC 5207 Major arm "Extension limited to 90° or 100°" = 50%; DC 5205 Major arm "Elbow ankylosis, unfavorable at angle less than 50°" = 60%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5205-5207.)
40%
DC 5206 Major "Flexion limited to 55°" = 40%; DC 5206 Minor "Flexion limited to 45°" = 40%; DC 5207 Major "Extension limited to 75°" = 40%; DC 5205 Major "Ankylosis intermediate at 90°-70° or 50°" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
30%
DC 5206 Major "Flexion limited to 70°" = 30%; DC 5206 Minor "Flexion limited to 55°" = 30%; DC 5207 Major "Extension limited to 60°" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
20%
DC 5206 "Flexion limited to 90°" = 20% (Major or Minor); DC 5207 "Extension limited to 45°" = 20%; DC 5208 "Forearm flexion limited to 100° and extension to 45°" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) ⚠ DC 5003 X-ray-only 20% does NOT apply per Note 2.
10%
DC 5206 "Flexion limited to 100°" or "110°" = 10%; DC 5207 "Extension limited to 60°" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback (one major joint with painful-motion / swelling / muscle-spasm objectively confirmed) = 10%. ⚠ Per Note 2, X-ray-only "2+ joints" pathway does NOT apply to DC 5019. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Diagnosed olecranon bursitis without compensable ROM under DC 5205-5208 (flexion ≥110° AND extension ≤60°) AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion / swelling / muscle-spasm findings supporting the DC 5003 10% single-joint fallback.
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