Amputation of thumb and little fingers
The VA rates Amputation of thumb and little fingers under Diagnostic Code 5145, with separate ratings for the dominant and non-dominant arm: 50% for the dominant arm and 40% for the non-dominant arm. The applicable level depends on the full criteria below and the evidence for the condition.
Catalog name: Thumb and little.
Rating schedule · DC 5145 at a glance
- Dominant arm
- 50%
- Non-dominant arm
- 40%
- CFR section
- § 4.71a
- Body system
- Musculoskeletal System
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Major column of the published table
Minor column of the published table
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Amputation of thumb and little fingers?
DC 5145 is rated separately for your dominant arm and your non-dominant arm. 38 CFR § 4.69 decides which arm is dominant.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, eCFR as of .
Other notes printed in this table
These notes appear in the same table in 38 CFR, and their text does not name DC 5145.
- (a) The ratings for multiple finger amputations apply to amputations at the proximal interphalangeal joints or through proximal phalanges.
- (b) Amputation through middle phalanges will be rated as prescribed for unfavorable ankylosis of the fingers.
- (c) Amputations at distal joints, or through distal phalanges, other than negligible losses, will be rated as prescribed for favorable ankylosis of the fingers.
- (d) Amputation or resection of metacarpal bones (more than one-half the bone lost) in multiple fingers injuries will require a rating of 10 percent added to (not combined with) the ratings, multiple finger amputations, subject to the amputation rule applied to the forearm.
- (e) Combinations of finger amputations at various levels, or finger amputations with ankylosis or limitation of motion of the fingers will be rated on the basis of the grade of disability; i.e., amputation, unfavorable ankylosis, most representative of the levels or combinations. With an even number of fingers involved, and adjacent grades of disability, select the higher of the two grades.
- (f) Loss of use of the hand will be held to exist when no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump with a suitable prosthetic appliance.
What other musculoskeletal conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Amputation of thumb and little fingers in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 5140Index, ring and little
- 5141Long, ring and little
- 5142Thumb and index
- 5143Thumb and long
- 5144Thumb and ring
- 5146Index and long
- 5147Index and ring
- 5148Index and little
- 5149Long and ring
- 5150Long and little
What to do with a Amputation of thumb and little fingers rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
Common Questions About Amputation of thumb and little fingers VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Amputation of thumb and little fingers?
Dominant arm: 50%; non-dominant arm: 40%, under DC 5145, 38 CFR § 4.71a. The applicable column depends on which arm is dominant under 38 CFR § 4.69.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Amputation of thumb and little fingers?
The VA rates Amputation of thumb and little fingers under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5145, published in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
Can Amputation of thumb and little fingers qualify for TDIU?
Using the dominant-arm maximum: DC 5145 publishes up to 50% for the dominant arm and up to 40% for the non-dominant arm. That alone does not meet the single-disability TDIU threshold of 60%. With other service-connected disabilities combining to 70% or more, one of them at 40% or more, TDIU under 38 CFR § 4.16(a) may apply, and extraschedular TDIU under § 4.16(b) is available if the condition alone prevents work regardless of rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Amputation of thumb and little fingers?
The key evidence for Amputation of thumb and little fingers is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. For musculoskeletal conditions, range of motion measurements (active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing per Correia v. McDonald) and flare-up documentation are critical. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
What happens at the C&P exam for Amputation of thumb and little fingers?
The C&P examiner uses a Musculoskeletal System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 5145 rating criteria. Expect range of motion testing in multiple positions. Under Correia v. McDonald, the examiner must test active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing range of motion. Report your worst flare-up symptoms. If you cannot attend during a flare, request the exam be rescheduled.
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