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Radial Head Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5212 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5212 |
Radial Head 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 fracture of the radial head at the elbow, affecting forearm pronation and supination
RATING CRITERIA (7 LEVELS)
60%
DC 5212 Major "Radius, impairment of: Nonunion in lower half, with false movement: With loss of bone substance (1 inch / 2.5 cm or more) and marked deformity" = 60% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5212.) Severe radial nonunion — rare for isolated radial head fractures.
50%
DC 5212 Minor "Radius nonunion lower half with bone loss" = 50%; DC 5206 Major "Forearm flexion limited to 45°" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
40%
DC 5212 Major "Radius nonunion in lower half without bone loss" = 40%; DC 5206 Major "Forearm flexion limited to 55°" = 40%; DC 5207 Major "Forearm extension limited to 75°" = 40%; DC 5213 "Hand fixed in supination or hyperpronation" = 40% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
30%
DC 5209 "Elbow, other impairment of Flail joint" = 20% (Major or Minor); DC 5209 "Joint fracture, with marked cubitus varus or cubitus valgus deformity or with ununited fracture of head of radius" = 30% Major (verbatim § 4.71a DC 5209); DC 5212 "Radius nonunion upper half" = 30% Major; DC 5212 "Radius malunion with bad alignment" = 30% Major; DC 5213 "Hand fixed in full pronation" = 30% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
20%
DC 5209 "Ununited fracture of head of radius" = 20% Minor; DC 5212 Minor "Radius nonunion upper half" = 20%; DC 5212 Minor "Radius malunion" = 20%; DC 5213 "Hand fixed near middle of arc or moderate pronation" = 20% Major; DC 5206 "Forearm 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 "Hand fixed near middle of arc" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback with painful motion / palpable radial-head crepitus = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Mason Type I non-displaced fracture fully healed with normal ROM at elbow + forearm rotation, no nonunion findings, 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