[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 85523-85524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26907]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 4

RIN 2900-AP88


Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Musculoskeletal System and 
Muscle Injuries; Correction

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making correcting 
amendments to the final rule published on November 30, 2020. The final 
rule amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Schedule for Rating 
Disabilities (``VASRD'' or ``rating schedule'') by revising the portion 
of the rating schedule that addresses the musculoskeletal system.

DATES: Effective February 7, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Reynolds, M.D., Regulations Staff 
(211C), Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420, (202) 461-9700. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is correcting its final rule, ``RIN 2900-
AP88; Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Musculoskeletal System and 
Muscle Injuries'', that was published on November 30, 2020, in the 
Federal Register at 38 CFR, Vol. 85, No. 230, 76453. The first error is 
with instruction 2(a), in which we intended to revise diagnostic code 
5003. We are correcting this error by revising the entire diagnostic 
code 5003. The second error contains inaccurate diagnostic codes for 
Prosthetic implants in appendix C. We are correcting this error by 
revising the entry for Prosthetic implants.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.

    In FR Doc. 2020-25450 appearing on page 76453 in the Federal 
Register of Monday, November 30, 2020, the following corrections are 
made:


Sec.  4.71a  [Corrected]

0
1. On page 76460, in Sec.  4.71a, the entry for diagnostic code 5003 is 
correctly revised to read as follows:


Sec.  4.71a  Schedule of ratings--musculoskeletal system.

                  Acute, Subacute, or Chronic Diseases
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
5003 Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic:
    Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings
     will be rated on the basis of limitation of motion
     under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the
     specific joint or joints involved (DC 5200 etc.).
     When however, the limitation of motion of the
     specific joint or joints involved is noncompensable
     under the appropriate diagnostic codes, a rating of
     10 pct is for application for each such major joint
     or group of minor joints affected by limitation of
     motion, to be combined, not added under diagnostic
     code 5003. Limitation of motion must be objectively
     confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle
     spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion.
     In the absence of limitation of motion, rate as
     below:
        With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more               20
         major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups,
         with occasional incapacitating exacerbations
        With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more               10
         major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups
    Note (1): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-
     ray findings, above, will not be combined with
     ratings based on limitation of motion.
    Note (2): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-
     ray findings, above, will not be utilized in rating
     conditions listed under diagnostic codes 5013 to
     5024, inclusive.
 
                              * * * * * * *
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Appendix C to Part 4 [Corrected]

0
2. On page 76469, in appendix C to part 4, the entry for ``Prosthetic 
implants'' is correctly revised to read as follows:

Appendix C to Part 4--Alphabetical Index of Disabilities

[[Page 85524]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Diagnostic
                                                               code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
Prosthetic implants:
    Ankle replacement...................................            5056
    Elbow replacement...................................            5052
    Hip, resurfacing or replacement.....................            5054
    Knee, resurfacing or replacement....................            5055
    Shoulder replacement................................            5051
    Wrist replacement...................................            5053
 
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[FR Doc. 2020-26907 Filed 12-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P