Why You Should Document ALL of Your Upper Extremity Injuries

​When you suffer an injury to your arm, be sure to adequately document all the injuries to this extremity as it is possible for injuries to the elbow, forearm, and wrist to each be assigned separate disability evaluations.  That is because the VA views the various planes of motion of these joints to be clinically separate and distinct.  Therefore, if you suffer from an arm injury, be sure to determine whether you may claim ratings for limitation of motion to elbow flexion and extension, forearm supination or pronation as well as wrist flexion or ankylosis.  Unfortunately, the Federal Circuit has ruled that multiple ratings for shoulder injuries are not permitted.