Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)
The VA rates Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) under Diagnostic Code 5214, with separate ratings for the dominant and non-dominant arm: 30% to 50% for the dominant arm and 20% to 40% for the non-dominant arm. The applicable level depends on the full criteria below and the evidence for the condition.
Catalog name: Wrist, ankylosis of.
Rating schedule · DC 5214 at a glance
- Dominant arm
- 30% to 50%
- Non-dominant arm
- 20% to 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 Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)?
DC 5214 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 5214.
- Note: Extremely unfavorable ankylosis will be rated as loss of use of hands under diagnostic code 5125.
What other musculoskeletal conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) 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.
- 5209Elbow, other impairment of Flail joint
- 5210Radius and ulna, nonunion of, with flail false joint
- 5211Ulna, impairment of
- 5212Radius, impairment of
- 5213Supination and pronation, impairment of
- 5215Limitation of Motion of the Wrist
- 5216Five digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- 5217Four digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- 5218Three digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
- 5219Two digits of one hand, unfavorable ankylosis of
What to do with a Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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- 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 Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)?
Dominant arm: 30% to 50%; non-dominant arm: 20% to 40%, under DC 5214, 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 Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)?
The VA rates Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5214, published in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 30% and a 50% dominant-arm rating for Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)?
These figures are the dominant-arm column of DC 5214. A 30% dominant-arm rating is published for: Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion. A 50% dominant-arm rating is published for: Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation. The non-dominant arm is rated on its own column, 20% to 40%.
Can Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) qualify for TDIU?
Using the dominant-arm maximum: DC 5214 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 Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)?
The key evidence for Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint) 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 Wrist ankylosis (fixed joint)?
The C&P examiner uses a Musculoskeletal System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 5214 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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