Claim Raven explanation
What this means
For the forms of arthritis addressed here, the rating examination should cover all major joints. The rule calls attention to particular physical findings rather than focusing only on the joint that happens to be most painful that day.
The text expressly distinguishes traumatic arthritis. The examination scope therefore depends on the diagnosed condition and its relevant effects, not on a general assumption that every arthritis claim is the same.
How this helps your claim
This helps you identify whether the record describes the extent of the particular arthritis being evaluated. A diagnosis and a list of affected joints are more useful than an unsupported suggestion that the condition affects everything.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Confirm the type of arthritis diagnosed in the record.
- List major joints with documented findings or symptoms.
- Compare the examination coverage with the documented pattern of disease.
Check the examination's scope against the arthritis diagnosis
The type of arthritis matters to this provision's examination scope. Read the actual diagnosis rather than treating traumatic and other forms as interchangeable. A condition involving several joints can require a different picture from a localized injury.
Keep the findings for each affected major joint identifiable, including the physical signs discussed in the regulation. A report concentrating on the worst joint may leave the broader disease pattern unclear. The aim is a complete examination relevant to the diagnosed condition, not unrelated testing without a medical basis.
Does this section give every arthritic joint the same rating?
No. It addresses examination considerations, while the relevant diagnostic schedule determines evaluation. Different joints and manifestations can require different measurements and combination rules. A broad arthritis diagnosis should not replace the findings needed for each applicable evaluation.
Official regulatory text
38 CFR § 4.61
eCFR snapshot: September 3, 2026. Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The full section and its tables are included below.
§ 4.61 Examination.
With any form of arthritis (except traumatic arthritis) it is essential that the examination for rating purposes cover all major joints, with especial reference to Heberden's or Haygarth's nodes.
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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