Diagnostic code

Diagnostic Code 5017: Gout Rating Criteria

CFR section: 38 CFR § 4.71a
Rating range: 10% to 20%
Rating levels: 2
Body system: Musculoskeletal system

The VA rates Gout under diagnostic code 5017 in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.

DC 5017 rating criteria

Rating	Criteria
10%	Painful or limited motion of an affected joint that is noncompensable under the joint-specific limitation-of-motion code What raters look forpainful motion; limited motion; affected joint
20%	Higher joint-specific or multi-joint residual rating when limitation of motion, ankylosis, or other affected-part criteria support it What raters look forjoint-specific criteria; multiple joints; functional loss

Condition guide

The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Gout. The Gout condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.

What happens to Gout appeals at the Board

20.3%Granted

37.1%Denied

42.6%Remanded

Claim Raven's analysis of 714 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals cases with Gout as the primary issue. The Gout condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.

Method: outcomes are coded per case from the Board's published decisions, rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, excluding dismissals. The dataset codes the condition on appeal, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Gout appeals generally rather than DC 5017 specifically. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.

Frequently asked questions

What is VA diagnostic code 5017?

Diagnostic code 5017 is the VA rating schedule entry for Gout, found in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.

What ratings are possible under DC 5017?

DC 5017 provides ratings of 10%, 20%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.

What does the highest rating under DC 5017 require?

The 20% rating for Gout requires: Higher joint-specific or multi-joint residual rating when limitation of motion, ankylosis, or other affected-part criteria support it.

Other musculoskeletal system codes

All 39 musculoskeletal system codes →

Claim Raven is not legal or medical advice and is not an official VA application. Rating criteria are quoted from 38 CFR Part 4; the VA applies them to your specific record. Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then 1