The VA rating schedule does not include every possible medical condition. When your condition is not specifically listed, VA must rate it by analogy to a listed condition that affects the same body function, has similar symptoms, and causes similar disability. The diagnostic code assigned will have an added hyphen indicating it is an analogous rating. Choosing the right analogous code matters because it determines which rating criteria apply to your condition. VA should select the code that most closely matches your actual symptoms and functional limitations. If VA chose an inappropriate analogous code that results in a lower rating than the evidence supports, you can argue for a different code that better captures your disability. For example, a condition that primarily causes pain and limited motion might be rated under a musculoskeletal code, while the same condition in another veteran might be better rated under a neurological code if nerve symptoms predominate. The selection depends on your specific presentation. If no analogous code adequately captures your disability, VA can assign a rating based on the overall level of impairment using a general code. You should always review the diagnostic code assigned to ensure it makes sense for your particular condition.
Note: This article references sections of the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual. The VA periodically reorganizes the M21-1 and section numbers may have changed since this article was written. For the most current section references, visit the VA's public M21-1 Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS).