Claim Raven explanation
What this means
VA examinations must accurately measure relevant joint movement, scars, amputation stumps, and muscle atrophy. This section specifically calls for a goniometer, an instrument that measures joint angles, when assessing limitation of motion.
Measurements provide a common way to compare the examination with rating criteria. A rough description such as limited movement may leave out information needed to evaluate the disability.
How this helps your claim
This helps you identify an examination that lacks a needed measurement or contains inconsistent measurements. Note the missing detail and the relevant body part rather than trying to estimate a result yourself.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Look for recorded movement measurements in degrees where relevant.
- Check dimensions and locations of scars or other measured residuals.
- Compare inconsistent measurements with their dates and examination context.
Look for measurements that can be checked
An examination should identify the measured joint or body part, the side and the relevant values. A narrative saying reduced motion can be difficult to compare with criteria expressed in degrees. Accurate measurements provide the common reference needed for that comparison.
If a report appears inconsistent, identify the specific entry and the criterion it affects. A copied side, missing unit or unexplained value is a concrete concern. Do not replace it with your own forced movement test or estimate of what the examiner should have recorded.
Should I measure my own joint to establish the rating?
This provision concerns accurate professional examination, including use of a goniometer for joint motion. Personal observations can describe functional limits, but they do not substitute for required clinical measurements. Avoid painful or unsafe self-testing and keep the distinction between observed difficulty and measured range clear.
Official regulatory text
38 CFR § 4.46
eCFR snapshot: September 3, 2026. Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The full section and its tables are included below.
§ 4.46 Accurate measurement.
Accurate measurement of the length of stumps, excursion of joints, dimensions and location of scars with respect to landmarks, should be insisted on. The use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Muscle atrophy must also be accurately measured and reported.
[41 FR 11294, Mar. 18, 1976]
Related references
- 38 CFR § 4.1: What a VA disability rating measures
- 38 CFR § 3.159: VA duty to assist: records and examinations
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