38 C.F.R. § 4.20
Analogous ratings
When an unlisted condition is encountered it will be permissible to rate under a closely related disease or injury in which not only the functions affected, but the anatomical localization and symptomatology are closely analogous. Conjectural analogies will be avoided, as will the use of analogous ratings for conditions of doubtful diagnosis, or for those not fully supported by clinical and laboratory findings. Nor will ratings assigned to organic diseases and injuries be assigned by analogy to conditions of functional origin.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 135
cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1992–2025 · leading case: Nathan Yancy v. Robert A. McDonald, 27 Vet. App. 484 (Vet. App. 2016).
Nathan Yancy v. Robert A. McDonald, 27 Vet. App. 484 (Vet. App. 2016). “345, 350-51 (1992) (discussing the three factors VA must consider to determine “whether a listed disease or injury is “closely related” to [a] veteran’s ailment”); 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.20 , 4.27 (2015). Thus, as in Hudgens, although the plain language of DC 5284 limits its application…”
Ulysses Copeland v. Robert A. McDonald, 27 Vet. App. 333 (Vet. App. 2015). “" 38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (2014); see 38 C.F.R. § 4.”
Dennis M. Thun v. James B. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 111 (Vet. App. 2008). “See 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.20 (“Analogous ratings”), 4.”
Lendenmann v. Principi, 3 Vet. App. 345 (Vet. App. 1992). “38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (1991). In addition, another regulation concerned with the “use of diagnostic code numbers” provides in pertinent part as follows: When an unlisted disease, injury, or residual condition is encountered, requiring rating by analogy, the diagnostic code number…”
Tyra K. Mitchell v. Eric K. Shinseki, 25 Vet. App. 32 (Vet. App. 2011). “159, 161 (2010); see 38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (2011). 3 . Under DC 5260, which is based on the degree of flexion of the leg, a (maximum) 30% disability rating is permitted when the flexion is limited to 15 degrees, 20% when limited to 30 degrees, 10% when limited to 45 degrees, and 0%…”
Suttmann v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 127 (Vet. App. 1993). “See 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.20 (unlisted condition must be rated by analogy to listed disease or injury in which functions affected, anatomical localization, and symptomatology are all closely analogous), 4.”
Robert A. Anderson v. Eric K. Shinseki, 22 Vet. App. 423 (Vet. App. 2009). “See 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.20 and 4.27 (2008). For exceptional cases, 3 VA has authorized the assignment of extraschedular ratings and provided the following guidance for awarding such ratings: To accord justice, therefore, to the exceptional case where the schedular evaluations are…”
Hudgens v. McDonald, 823 F.3d 630 (Fed. Cir. 2016). “38 C.F.R. § 4.20 allows the VA to evaluate specific disorders not listed in the regulations under codes for similar disorders.”
Kurt Prokarym v. Robert A. McDonald, 27 Vet. App. 307 (Vet. App. 2015). “See 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.20 , 4.27 (2014) (explaining the procedure for rating an unlisted disease, injury, or residual condition by analogy).”
Joseph Martinak v. R. James Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 447 (Vet. App. 2007). “See 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.20 ("Analogous ratings”), 4.”
Alan J. Vogan v. Eric K. Shinseki, 24 Vet. App. 159 (Vet. App. 2010). “345, 351 (1992); 38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (2010). In this case, however, the appellant has not set forth any argument or explanation of how any other DC would apply to the residuals of his surgery beyond scars.”
Smallwood v. Brown, 10 Vet. App. 93 (Vet. App. 1997). “See 38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (1994) (‘When an unlisted condition is encountered it will be permissible to rate under a closely related disease or injury in which not only the functions affected, but the anatomical localization and symptomatology are closely analogous”).”
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