Medical & rating terms, explained

Definitions for the medical terms that show up in VA rating-schedule language quoted throughout the site.

abduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline; for the foot, the front of the foot turning outward.

adduction

Movement of a body part toward the midline of the body. It is the opposite of abduction.

adherent

Stuck or attached to the tissue underneath, so it doesn't move freely.

ankylosis (ankylosed)

A joint that is frozen stiff and cannot move, whether from disease, injury, or surgical fusion.

aortic insufficiency

A leaky aortic valve that lets blood flow backward into the heart instead of out to the body.

ape hand deformity (ape hand)

A hand position caused by median-nerve damage in which the thumb can't move out to the side and lies flat beside the fingers.

apnea (apneas, sleep apnea)

Pauses in breathing during sleep. "Obstructive" means the airway collapses; "central" means the brain doesn't send the signal to breathe.

apraxia

Trouble carrying out learned movements on purpose even though the muscles themselves work fine.

atrophy (atrophic, muscular atrophy, muscle atrophy)

Wasting or shrinking of a body part or tissue, such as muscle (from disuse, nerve damage, or disease), skin that has become thin, or an organ that has shrunk.

audiogram

The chart of your hearing-test results, showing the softest sounds you can hear across different pitches.

bilateral factor

A VA rating rule that adds a small extra amount to your combined rating when you have a rated (10% or higher) disability in each arm, each leg, or each of a pair of muscles. The two sides do not need to have the same kind of condition.

biologics (biologic)

Newer medicines made from living cells that target specific parts of the immune system.

bradycardia

A slower than normal heart rate. When severe it can cause fatigue, dizziness, or fainting, and is sometimes treated with a pacemaker.

breathing assistance device

A machine that helps you breathe during sleep. VA's sleep apnea rating names CPAP as one example.

bronchodilator (bronchodilator therapy)

An inhaled or oral medicine that relaxes and opens the airways to make breathing easier.

callosities (callosity, callus, calluses)

Thickened, hardened patches of skin (calluses) that build up where the foot takes abnormal or repeated pressure.

carbon dioxide retention (CO2 retention, hypercapnia)

A buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood because the lungs can't clear it. It is a sign of severe breathing failure.

cervical spine (cervical)

The neck section of the spine.

cervicogenic headache

A headache that actually starts from a problem in the neck but is felt in the head.

circumlocutory (circumlocution)

Talking around a subject in a vague, indirect way, often because the exact word won't come.

circumstantial speech (circumstantial)

Talking in a roundabout way, wandering through needless detail but eventually reaching the point.

compensable (noncompensable)

In VA terms, a rating (10% or higher) that comes with a monthly payment. A "noncompensable" 0% rating is service-connected but usually pays nothing by itself.

complete paralysis

Total loss of a nerve's function. VA describes what complete paralysis looks like for each nerve and rates partial loss by comparison to it.

completely prostrating

The stricter wording used in the top (50%) migraine rating. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has said these attacks must leave the veteran "entirely powerless."

cor pulmonale

Failure of the right side of the heart caused by long-term lung disease or breathing problems.

corticosteroids (corticosteroid, systemic corticosteroids)

Strong steroid medicines, such as prednisone. Doctors use them to calm severe inflammation, or to replace hormones the body can't make on its own (as in Addison's disease). "Systemic" means taken in a way that reaches the whole body, such as by pill or shot, rather than put on the skin.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure, continuous airway pressure)

A bedside machine that pushes a steady stream of air through a mask to hold the airway open during sleep.

creative organ (creative organs)

VA's term for a reproductive organ, such as a testicle or ovary. VA can treat service-connected erectile dysfunction as loss of use of a creative organ, which can qualify for special monthly compensation.

degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis)

Joint damage from long-term wear that breaks down the cartilage cushioning the joint.

degenerative disc disease (DDD)

Gradual wear and breakdown of the cushioning discs between the bones of the spine.

delusions (delusion)

Fixed false beliefs a person holds firmly even when they are clearly untrue.

diastolic

The lower blood-pressure number: the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats, when the heart is resting.

dilatation (dilation)

Widening or stretching. In digestive and urinary criteria it means a procedure to stretch open a narrowed passage, such as the esophagus or urethra. In heart criteria it means an enlarged heart chamber.

dorsiflexion

Bending a joint backward toward the top of the limb: at the ankle, lifting the foot and toes toward the shin; at the wrist, bending the hand back toward the top of the forearm.

dyspepsia

Indigestion: discomfort or pain in the upper belly, often with bloating or nausea.

dysphagia

Difficulty or discomfort swallowing.

effusion (joint effusion)

A buildup of fluid where it doesn't belong. In a joint ("joint effusion") it causes swelling, sometimes called "water on the knee"; a "pleural effusion" is fluid around the lungs.

endometriosis

A condition in which tissue like the lining of the uterus grows outside it, often causing ongoing pelvic pain and heavy or painful periods.

epigastric (epigastric distress)

Relating to the upper-middle belly, just below the breastbone.

esophageal stricture

A narrowing of the esophagus (food pipe) that makes swallowing difficult, often from long-term acid damage.

ethmoid (ethmoid sinus)

The ethmoid sinuses: the air pockets between the eyes.

eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward, away from the other foot.

exacerbation (exacerbations)

A flare-up: a stretch when a condition's symptoms suddenly get worse.

executive functions (executive function)

The brain's higher-level skills for planning, organizing, problem-solving, and self-control.

extension

Straightening a joint so the two bones move farther apart. It is the opposite of flexion.

fatigability (marked fatigability)

How easily and quickly a person becomes tired.

FEV-1 (FEV1)

A breathing-test result: the amount of air you can force out of your lungs in one second. Lower numbers mean worse breathing.

fibrous union

A broken bone that has partly healed, but only with tough, scar-like tissue instead of solid bone. VA rates it separately from a nonunion.

flail joint (flail shoulder)

A joint so loose and unstable that it flops and can't hold a position. In VA shoulder ratings, "flail shoulder" means the top of the upper-arm bone is lost, and "false flail joint" means a break that never healed and now moves like an extra joint.

flattened affect

In mental-health terms, showing little or no emotion in face and voice. ("Affect" is the outward show of emotion.)

flexion (forward flexion)

Bending a joint so the two bones fold closer together, such as bending the knee or curling the arm up.

frontal sinus

The air pockets in the forehead, above the eyes.

FVC (forced vital capacity, FEV-1/FVC)

Forced vital capacity: the total amount of air you can force out after breathing in fully. The FEV-1/FVC ratio compares the one-second amount to this total.

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroesophageal reflux)

Chronic acid reflux: stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn and related damage.

guarding (muscle guarding)

Involuntary tightening of the muscles around an injured area to protect it from painful movement.

herniation (herniated, herniated disc, disc herniation, herniated nucleus pulposus)

When the soft center of a spinal disc pushes out through its tough outer wall, often pressing on a nerve.

hiatal hernia

When part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest, often worsening acid reflux.

hyperpigmentation (hyperpigmented, hyper-pigmented, hypopigmentation, hypopigmented, hypo-pigmented)

Skin that is darker than the area around it (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than the area around it (hypopigmentation).

hypersomnolence (day-time hypersomnolence, daytime hypersomnolence, hypersomnia)

Excessive sleepiness: struggling to stay awake during the day, or sleeping far more than normal, even after a full night in bed.

hypertensive heart disease

Heart damage, such as a thickened or weakened heart, caused by years of high blood pressure.

hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid gland, which speeds up the body's metabolism.

hypoglycemia (hypoglycemic, hypoglycemic reactions)

Low blood sugar, which can cause shakiness, confusion, sweating, or fainting. An "oral hypoglycemic agent" is a diabetes pill that lowers blood sugar.

immunosuppressive (immuno-suppressive, immunosuppressive medications, immunosuppressive drugs)

Describing medicines that dial down the body's immune system to reduce inflammation or an overactive immune response.

incapacitating episode (incapacitating episodes)

In VA rating language, a period when a condition flares up badly enough to need medical care. The exact rule varies by condition. For most conditions it means bed rest and treatment by a doctor, and for back and neck disc problems (IVDS) the bed rest must be prescribed by a doctor. For eye conditions, it means an eye problem bad enough to need a clinic visit for treatment, and no bed rest is required.

incomplete paralysis

Partial loss of a nerve's function (weakness, numbness, or reduced movement) rather than total loss. VA rates nerve conditions by comparing them to mild, moderate, (for some nerves) moderately severe, or severe incomplete paralysis, or to complete paralysis.

indurated (induration)

Abnormally hard or firm to the touch.

intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)

Back or neck problems caused by a spinal disc pressing on or irritating a nearby nerve.

inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward, toward the other foot.

ischemic (ischemia, ischemic heart disease)

Reduced blood flow. Ischemic heart disease means the heart muscle isn't getting enough blood, usually from clogged arteries.

isolated systolic hypertension

High blood pressure where only the upper number is high: in VA terms, an upper number mostly 160 or more with a lower number under 90.

ketoacidosis (diabetic ketoacidosis)

A dangerous diabetes emergency in which the blood turns acidic because the body burns fat for fuel without enough insulin.

kyphosis

An excessive outward curve of the upper spine that gives a rounded or hunched back.

laparoscopy (laparoscopic)

A minor surgery that uses a thin camera passed through a small cut in the abdomen to look inside; it has been one way doctors confirm conditions like endometriosis.

lateral instability

Looseness in a joint that lets it wobble or give way from side to side, usually from stretched or torn ligaments.

lesion (lesions, characteristic lesions)

Any area of abnormal or damaged tissue, such as a patch, sore, or growth on the skin.

lordosis (reversed lordosis)

The normal inward curve of the neck and lower back; "reversed lordosis" means that curve is lost or bent the wrong way.

malunion (malunited)

A broken bone that healed in a crooked or wrong position.

Maryland CNC

A standardized word-recognition test that measures how clearly you understand speech, used in VA hearing exams.

maxillary (maxillary sinus)

The maxillary sinuses: the large air pockets in the cheekbones.

METs (metabolic equivalents)

A measure of how much activity the heart can handle. One MET is the energy your body uses standing quietly at rest; VA rates heart conditions partly by the MET level that brings on symptoms.

mucorrhea

Passing mucus in or with the stool.

muscle spasm (spasm, spasms)

A sudden, involuntary tightening of a muscle.

neuralgia

Pain that follows the path of a nerve. VA describes it as usually dull and coming and going, felt along that nerve's route.

neuritis

Inflammation of a nerve, causing pain, tingling, or weakness.

neurobehavioral (neurobehavioral effects)

Relating to how a brain condition affects behavior, mood, and self-control, for example irritability or poor impulse control.

neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic)

Nerve damage. In the arms and legs it is usually felt as numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness, most often in the hands and feet. Damage to a nerve of the eye (optic neuropathy) can affect vision instead.

nexus (medical nexus)

The medical link between a current condition and military service (or another service-connected condition). A "nexus opinion" is a doctor's statement explaining that link.

nonunion (nonunited)

A broken bone that never fully knit back together with solid bone. Depending on the break, the loose ends may move or may stay fairly stable.

osteomyelitis

A bone infection.

palpable (palpation)

Able to be felt by touch.

pansinusitis (pansinuses)

Inflammation affecting all of the sinuses at once.

PEG tube

A feeding tube placed directly into the stomach through the belly wall for people who can't eat normally.

pes planus (flatfoot, flat foot, fallen arches)

Flatfoot: a foot with little or no arch, so the sole rests flat or nearly flat on the ground. "Acquired" means it developed later in life rather than being present from birth.

photochemotherapy (PUVA)

A skin treatment that combines a light-sensitizing medicine with ultraviolet light.

phototherapy

Treating a skin condition with controlled doses of ultraviolet light.

plantar fascia (plantar fasciitis)

The thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot connecting the heel to the toes. When it is inflamed or irritated, the condition is called plantar fasciitis.

plantar flexion

Pointing the foot and toes downward at the ankle, the way you press a gas pedal.

polyps (polyp, nasal polyps)

Soft, non-cancerous growths; in the nose, they can block airflow.

pronation (marked pronation)

Rolling inward. In the forearm, turning the hand so the palm faces down; in the foot, the ankle rolling inward as the arch flattens. "Marked" pronation of the foot is a severe, obvious version.

prostrating (prostrating attacks, prostration)

So severe that it drains your strength and leaves you powerless or laid low. It is VA's word for a migraine attack that puts you out of commission.

psoriatic arthritis

Joint inflammation and pain that occurs together with the skin disease psoriasis.

puretone audiometry (puretone, puretone threshold, puretone threshold average)

A hearing test using single-pitch tones to find the softest sound you can hear at each pitch. The "puretone threshold average" VA uses is the average of those softest-heard levels at 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz.

purulent (purulent discharge)

Containing or discharging pus.

pyrosis

The medical word for heartburn: a burning feeling behind the breastbone.

radiculopathy

Pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness caused by a pinched or irritated nerve root in the spine, often running down an arm or leg (sciatica is the leg version).

respiratory failure (chronic respiratory failure)

When the lungs can no longer move enough oxygen into the blood or clear enough carbon dioxide. It is life-threatening.

retinoids (retinoid)

Vitamin-A-based medicines used to treat severe skin conditions.

retinopathy (diabetic retinopathy)

Disease or damage of the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina's tiny blood vessels and is a common complication of diabetes.

scapulohumeral (scapulohumeral joint, scapulohumeral articulation)

Relating to the main shoulder joint, where the upper-arm bone meets the shoulder blade.

sciatic (sciatica, sciatic nerve)

The large nerve running from the lower back down each leg; when it's irritated, pain or numbness radiates down the leg.

scoliosis

A sideways, S- or C-shaped curve of the spine.

speech discrimination (word recognition, speech recognition)

How well you can understand and repeat spoken words, scored as a percentage on a hearing test.

sphenoid (sphenoid sinus)

The sphenoid sinuses: the air pockets deep behind the nose.

spirometry

A breathing test that measures how much and how fast you can move air in and out of your lungs.

stereotyped speech

Repeating the same words or phrases over and over in a fixed, mechanical way.

subluxation (recurrent subluxation)

A partial dislocation: a joint that slips partly out of place but not all the way.

systemic therapy

In VA skin ratings, treatment given any way other than on the skin, such as pills, shots, suppositories, or nasal sprays. VA's skin rules also count light treatments (phototherapy, PUVA) as systemic therapy.

systolic

The upper blood-pressure number: the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.

tendo achillis (tendo-achillis, Achilles tendon)

The Achilles tendon: the strong cord at the back of the ankle connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone.

thoracolumbar spine (thoracolumbar)

The middle and lower back sections of the spine together (the thoracic and lumbar spine).

tinnitus

Ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in the ears or head that have no outside source.

topical therapy (topical)

Treatment applied directly to the affected area instead of taken by mouth or shot, such as a skin cream or ointment. In bowel-disease criteria, topical medicines can include ones placed in the rectum.

tracheostomy

A surgical opening in the windpipe (through the front of the neck) that a person breathes through, usually with a tube in place.

vasomotor rhinitis

A constantly stuffy or runny nose caused by oversensitive nasal blood vessels rather than by an allergy.

vegetative state

A condition after severe brain injury in which a person is awake but shows no awareness of themselves or their surroundings.

vertigo

A spinning or tilting sensation: feeling like you or the room is moving when nothing is.