Arthritis VA Rating: DC 5003, DC 5002, and Joint Motion Rules

Complete VA arthritis rating table (DC 5003, DC 5002, DC 5010, and 38 CFR 4.59)

The table below lists every rating percentage, diagnostic code, and note governing arthritis under current 38 CFR 4.71a and 38 CFR 4.59.

Under the compensation schedule effective 2025-12-01 for a veteran without dependents, a 10% rating pays $180.42 per month, 20% pays $356.66, 40% pays $795.84, 60% pays $1,435.02, and 100% pays $3,938.58.

How Diagnostic Code 5003 rates degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis)

Diagnostic Code 5003 evaluates degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings in three steps:

1. Compensable limitation of motion under the specific joint code: Raters first evaluate each affected joint under its anatomical code in 38 CFR 4.71a, such as DC 5201 for the shoulder (20%–40%), DCs 5206–5208 for the elbow (10%–50%), DC 5215 for the wrist (10%), DCs 5235–5243 for the spine (10%–100%; see our back pain VA rating guide), DCs 5251–5253 for the hip (10%–40%), DCs 5260–5261 for the knee (10%–50%; see our knee pain VA rating guide), or DC 5271 for the ankle (10%–20%).
2. The 10% per-joint rule when motion is noncompensable: When a joint’s range of motion is noncompensable (0%) under its specific code, DC 5003 assigns 10% for each such major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion (combined, not added, under DC 5003), provided limitation of motion is objectively confirmed by swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion.
3. The 10% and 20% multi-joint X-ray fallback: In the complete absence of limited or painful motion, X-ray evidence of degenerative arthritis in 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups warrants a single 10% rating, or 20% with occasional incapacitating exacerbations.

Under Note (1) to DC 5003, the 20% and 10% X-ray ratings will not be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion. Under Note (2), the 20% and 10% X-ray ratings will not be utilized in rating conditions listed under DCs 5013 to 5024, inclusive (such as osteoporosis, gout, bursitis, and tendinitis).

Major joints vs. minor joint groups under 38 CFR 4.45

Under 38 CFR 4.45(f), the VA defines major joints and minor joint groups (rated “on a parity” with major joints):

• Six major joints (paired left and right): The shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. Each side counts as a standalone major joint (e.g., bilateral knee arthritis involves two major joints).
• Four minor joint groups:
  1. Upper extremity (each hand): Multiple involvements of the interphalangeal, metacarpal, and carpal joints.
  2. Lower extremity (each foot): Multiple involvements of the interphalangeal, metatarsal, and tarsal joints.
  3. Cervical vertebrae: The cervical spine counts as one minor joint group.
  4. Dorsal (thoracic) and lumbar vertebrae, lumbosacral articulation, and sacroiliac joints: Evaluated together on disturbance of lumbar/thoracolumbar spine functions.

Section 4.45(a)–(f) directs examiners to assess six factors of joint disability: less movement than normal, more movement than normal (instability), weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, and pain on movement, swelling, deformity, or atrophy of disuse (plus interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing).

Painful motion (38 CFR 4.59), functional loss (38 CFR 4.40), and post-traumatic arthritis (DC 5010)

Under 38 CFR 4.59, painful motion is an important factor of disability with any form of arthritis. Examiners must note wincing, muscle spasm, and crepitation, and test joints on active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing. Section 4.59 mandates that actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints receive at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint (typically 10%). Under 38 CFR 4.40 (DeLuca v. Brown and Mitchell v. Shinseki), examiners must also test three repetitions of motion and estimate additional degree loss during flare-ups.

When osteoarthritis develops from documented physical trauma—such as a fracture, dislocation, or ligament rupture—it is rated under Diagnostic Code 5010 (Post-traumatic arthritis) on limitation of motion, dislocation, or instability of the affected joint, with multiple joints combined under 38 CFR 4.25.

Rheumatoid arthritis and active multi-joint arthritis (Diagnostic Code 5002)

Systemic inflammatory and autoimmune arthritides affecting two or more joints (except post-traumatic arthritis and gout)—including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies (Note 1)—are rated under Diagnostic Code 5002 (as is the acute phase of infectious and specified arthropathies under DCs 5004–5009). Under Notes (2) and (3) to DC 5002, the VA compares two methods and assigns whichever yields the higher evaluation (never combining both):

1. Active process (DC 5002): 20% for 1–2 exacerbations a year in a well-established diagnosis; 40% for symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health objectively supported by examination findings, or incapacitating exacerbations 3 or more times a year; 60% for weight loss and anemia productive of severe impairment of health, or severely incapacitating exacerbations 4 or more times a year (or a lesser number over prolonged periods); or 100% for constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement, totally incapacitating.
2. Chronic residuals (DC 5003): Separate ratings for each affected joint’s chronic limitation of motion, ankylosis, or painful motion, combined under 38 CFR 4.25 and 4.26.

Service connection, C&P exams, DBQs, and combined ratings

Veterans can establish service connection for arthritis through three legal routes:

• Direct service connection (38 CFR 3.303): Current imaging-confirmed arthritis, an in-service joint injury or occupational strain, and a medical nexus.
• One-year chronic disease presumption (38 CFR 3.307 and 38 CFR 3.309(a)): Because “Arthritis” is a listed chronic disease, if it manifests to 10% or more within one year of discharge after at least 90 days of continuous active service, service connection is presumed.
• Secondary service connection (38 CFR 3.310): An altered gait from service-connected knee pain, foot conditions, or back pain may cause or aggravate secondary osteoarthritis in adjacent or contralateral joints. Conversely, service-connected arthritis may cause or aggravate secondary radiculopathy or sciatic neuritis from spinal arthritis (noted in 38 CFR 4.59 and rated under 38 CFR 4.124a), GERD or peptic ulcers from chronic NSAID therapy, or depressive and anxiety disorders under 38 CFR 4.130.

During a C&P exam, the clinician completes the anatomical Musculoskeletal DBQ (such as the Knee and Lower Leg Conditions DBQ or Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) Conditions DBQ) for DC 5003/5010 claims—verifying X-ray findings, measuring active and passive goniometer degrees, testing three repetitions, and estimating flare-up loss—or the Non-Degenerative Arthritis (Including Inflammatory, Autoimmune, Crystalline and Infectious) and Decompression Illness DBQ for DC 5002/5004–5009 claims.

Under 38 CFR 4.25(b), separate joint ratings combine using the Combined Ratings Table, which you can calculate with our VA combined rating calculator. When compensable arthritis affects both upper extremities or both lower extremities, 38 CFR 4.26 adds a 10% bilateral factor to their combined value before combining with other ratings.

Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion provide claims representation free of charge, while VA-accredited claims agents and attorneys handle appeals. No representative can guarantee an outcome; verify credentials through the VA Office of General Counsel Accreditation Search.