[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 22 (Thursday, February 4, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8142-8144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01289]


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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 85 FR 76453. The error is with the diagnostic code 
used to evaluate plantar fasciitis in schedule for ratings of the foot 
under the Schedule of Ratings for the Musculoskeletal System. A new 
diagnostic code for plantar fasciitis was assigned in the final rule 
under diagnostic code 5285; however, this code was previously used to 
evaluate ``vertebra, fracture of, residuals'' and later ``vertebral 
fracture or dislocation'' in the General Rating Formula for Diseases 
and Injuries of the Spine in the Schedule for Rating for the spine 
until September 26, 2003 when it was moved under diagnostic code 5235, 
``vertebral fracture or dislocation.'' See 68 FR 51454 and 67 FR 56509. 
Though vertebral fracture or dislocation is now evaluated using 
diagnostic code 5235, VA's corporate database still uses historical 
diagnostic code 5285 to compensate veterans for residuals of fractures 
of the vertebra who have not yet been converted to the current 
diagnostic code 5235. In order to avoid any issues with the use of the 
new diagnostic code for plantar fasciitis under 5285 and the historical 
diagnostic code 5285 previously used to evaluate residuals of spinal 
fractures, VA assigns a new diagnostic code for plantar fasciitis under 
diagnostic code 5269. As such, we are also redesignating the entire 
entry for plantar fasciitis from diagnostic codes 5285 to 5269, though 
we are maintaining its location in Sec.  4.71a in the table entitled 
``The Foot'' between diagnostic codes 5284 and 5296.

Corrections

    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 the third column, in Sec.  4.71a, the text of 
amendatory instruction 2.e. ``Adding the diagnostic code 5244 to the 
table entitled ``The Spine'' and the diagnostic code 5285 to the table 
entitled ``The Foot'''' is corrected to read ``Adding the diagnostic 
code 5244 in numerical order to the table entitled ``The Spine'' and 
the diagnostic code 5269 in numerical order to the table entitled ``The 
Foot''''.


Sec.  4.71a   [Corrected]

0
2. On page 76464, in Sec.  4.71a, the entry for diagnostic code 5269 is 
added and the entry for diagnostic code 5285 is removed to read as 
follows:


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

* * * * *

[[Page 8143]]



                                The Foot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5269 Plantar fasciitis:
    No relief from both non-surgical and surgical                     30
     treatment, bilateral...............................
    No relief from both non-surgical and surgical                     20
     treatment, unilateral..............................
    Otherwise, unilateral or bilateral..................              10
        Note (1): With actual loss of use of the foot,
         rate 40 percent................................
        Note (2): If a veteran has been recommended for
         surgical intervention, but is not a surgical
         candidate, evaluate under the 20 percent or 30
         percent criteria, whichever is applicable......
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

Appendix A to Part 4 [Corrected]

0
3. On page 76464, in the second column, in appendix A to part 4, the 
text of amendatory instruction 4.c. ``In Sec.  4.71a, add in numerical 
order diagnostic codes 5009, 5010, 5011, 5013, 5014, 5015, 5018, 5020, 
5022, 5023, 5120, 5160, 5170, 5201, 5202, 5235, 5236, 5237, 5238, 5239, 
5240, 5241, 5242, 5244, 5262, 5271, and 5285'' is corrected to read 
``In Sec.  4.71a, add in numerical order diagnostic codes 5009, 5010, 
5011, 5013, 5014, 5015, 5018, 5020, 5022, 5023, 5120, 5160, 5170, 5201, 
5202, 5235, 5236, 5237, 5238, 5239, 5240, 5241, 5242, 5244, 5262, 5269, 
and 5271''.

Appendix A to Part 4 [Corrected]

0
4. On page 76465, in appendix A to part 4, the entry 5269 is added in 
numerical order and the entry 5285 is removed to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 4--Table of Amendments and Effective Dates Since 
1946

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Diagnostic
                     Sec.                          code No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
                                                          5269  Added February 7, 2021.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix B to Part 4 [Corrected]

0
5. On page 76466, in the second column, the text of amendatory 
instruction 5.b. ``Add diagnostic codes 5244, 5285, 5330, and 5331'' is 
corrected to read ``Add diagnostic codes 5244, 5269, 5330, and 5331''.

Appendix B to Part 4 [Corrected]

0
6. On page 76467, in appendix B to part 4, remove the entry for 5285 
and add the entry 5269 in its place to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 4--Numerical Index of Disabilities

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Diagnostic code No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                The Foot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
5269..............................  Plantar fasciitis.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix C to Part 4 [Corrected]

0
7. On page 76468, in appendix C to part 4, the entry for ``Plantar 
fasciitis'' is corrected to read as follows:
    Appendix C to Part 4--Alphabetical Index of Disabilities

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Diagnostic
                                                             code No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
Plantar fasciitis.......................................            5269
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 8144]]

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-01289 Filed 2-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P