Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
Start a claim for Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis— free & guided
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The DBQ for Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960M-4 (Elbow and Forearm Conditions) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Musculoskeletal
General rating schedule for musculoskeletalconditions. Your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Painful motion or limitation of motion that is compensable
Moderate limitation of motion or functional impairment
Severe limitation of motion or significant functional loss
Unfavorable ankylosis or severe impairment
Extremely unfavorable ankylosis
Will adding Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Military Medicine, 2010 · PMID 20486505
Finding: Querying the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (1998-2006), lateral epicondylitis occurred in active-duty U.S. service members at an incidence rate of 2.98 per 1,000 person-years (vs 0.81 for medial epicondylitis). Incidence rose with age >=40 years, and was higher in women (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19-1.26).
Why it helps: Directly documents that lateral epicondylitis is a measurable, frequently diagnosed condition within the active-duty military population, supporting an association between military service and onset during service.
- Work-relatedness of lateral epicondylitis: Systematic review including meta-analysis and GRADEDirect
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2022 · PMID 34674287
Finding: Systematic review and meta-analysis of five prospective studies (318 workers with LE among 5,036) found high-quality evidence that a Strain Index score >5.1 raised LE risk (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.11-2.78) and moderate-quality evidence for forearm rotation >4 h/day or >=45 degrees for >=45% of time (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.10-3.10).
Why it helps: Provides high-grade evidence that forceful, repetitive, rotation-heavy physical work tasks are associated with lateral epicondylitis, supporting a connection between physically demanding military occupational duties and the condition.
Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 2011 · PMID 21663849
Finding: This review reports general-population lateral epicondylitis prevalence of roughly 1.0-1.3% in men and 1.1-4.0% in women, and identifies forceful activities, high force combined with high repetition, and awkward postures as occupational risk factors. Poorer prognosis is linked to high physical work strain and non-neutral wrist postures.
Why it helps: Establishes that forceful and repetitive manual work with awkward postures is associated with lateral epicondylitis and worse outcomes, helpful for tying the condition to strenuous military job demands.
Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), 2013 · nexus to rotator cuff pathology, carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain's disease, oral corticosteroid therapy · PMID 22490998
Finding: Case-control study of 4,998 matched patients found lateral epicondylitis significantly associated with rotator cuff pathology (OR 4.95), De Quervain's disease (OR 2.48), carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 1.50), oral corticosteroid therapy (OR 1.68), and prior smoking (OR 1.20).
Why it helps: Supports a secondary-service-connection theory: lateral epicondylitis is strongly associated with other service-connected upper-limb conditions (rotator cuff, carpal tunnel) and with corticosteroid medication used to treat service-connected conditions.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2017 · nexus to morbid obesity, tobacco use, inflammatory arthritis · PMID 28094190
Finding: Among 3,863 surgically treated LE patients, risk factors for revision surgery included morbid obesity (OR 2.13), tobacco use (OR 1.87), and inflammatory arthritis (OR 1.79), with >=3 preoperative injections the strongest factor (OR 3.55).
Why it helps: Supports an association between lateral epicondylitis severity/poor outcomes and comorbidities such as obesity and inflammatory arthritis, relevant when those conditions are themselves service-connected and aggravate the elbow condition.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2018 · nexus to anxiety, depression, mental health conditions (PTSD) · PMID 29433642
Finding: In 69 tennis elbow patients versus 100 controls, patients scored lower on extraversion and agreeableness; men in particular scored higher on perfectionism and were more likely to develop an anxiety disorder or depression, with higher reported workload.
Why it helps: Suggests a relationship between tennis elbow and psychological distress, offering support for a secondary connection where service-connected mental health conditions and elevated stress are associated with the elbow condition.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Filing a Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitisclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis should also be looking at:
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Health care
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Draft your Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis VA Claim
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis.
Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.