Rating Schedule for the Wrist
IMPORTANT NOTES:
For the purposes of Range of Motion (ROM), the examiner/rater are REQUIRED to consider flair ups in your conditions. Meaning, if you do not happen to have an Examination on your worst day, the examiner is required to reasonably estimate your impairment on your worst day! The rater is required to use this estimate, unless your ROM is somehow noted as being worse during ROM testing during the exam. In any event, the rater is to use the most impaired ROM measurements noted by the examiner!
For Veterans who are ambidextrous, whichever wrist is affected will be considered dominant.
5125 Amputation at Wrist
This schedule is pretty straight forward. However, Veterans must be aware of the Amputation Rule. It boils down to a Veteran cannot be rated higher for disabilities of a limb that would Combine to be more than a Veteran who has had an amputation that resulted in a loss of those areas.
NOTES:
Veterans who have also had an amputation/loss of use of their foot in addition to a wrist will receive a singular rating of 100% for both the loss of the hand and foot.
Veteran is entitled to Special Monthly Compensation.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 60% |
Non-dominant wrist |
| 70% | Dominant wrist |
| 100% | Both wrists. |
5214 Joint Stiffness (Ankylosis) of Wrist
When the wrist joint cannot move.
Deviation: Hand is tilted left or right.
Dorsiflexion: Palm facing the wall.
Palmar flexion: Palm faces yourself.
*Veterans is entitled to Special Monthly Compensation.
| Dominant Rating |
Non-Dominant Rating |
Degree Stuck |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | 20% | Between 20° to 30° dorsiflexion. |
| 40% | 30% | Greater than 30° dorsiflexion. |
| 50% | 40% | Any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation. |
| 70% | 60% | If hand becomes unusable at all*. |
5053 Wrist Replacement (Prosthesis)
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
If the joint had ANY other musculoskeletal evaluations (ankylosis, range of motion, etc.) they WILL BE discontinued the date of the procedure!
IMPORTANT NOTES:
After the temporary 100% ends the Veteran can file for an increase if they feel their symptoms warrant a higher evaluation.
If this condition could be rated higher under ankylosis, the rater will do so; replacing this evaluation.
Medical evidence MUST show:
Date of admission;
Date of discharge;
Date of surgery; AND
Procedure performed.
If the procedure is noted for a non-service-connected condition then the VA will get a medical opinion to determine if the non-service-connected condition is a progression of the service-connected condition.
RATER NOTES:
Temp 100% includes a bonus 1 month due to 38 CFR 4.30, so while it says 1 year it is actually 13 months total!
Example: Admitted for surgery June 12, 2025 and release June 12, 2025.
Effective date of 100% due to 38 CFR 4.30 is June 12, 2025 to August 1, 2025. Then 12 months due to the schedule ending on August 1, 2026. So in the end, temp 100% runs from June 12, 2025 to August 1, 2026.
Example rollover: Admitted for surgery February 28, 2025 and released March 2, 2025.
Effective date of 100% due to 38 CFR 4.30 is February 28, 2025 to May 1, 2025. Then 12 months due to the schedule ending on May 1, 2026. So in the end, temp 100% runs from February 28, 2025 to May 1, 2026.
Remember to check for temporary entitlement to SMC S and to discontinue it as appropriate!
Any residual Scars?
Temporary 100% CANNOT be the basis of the award of Permanent and Total… It is in the name…
| Dominant Rating |
Non-Dominant Rating |
Description |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | 20% | Minimum rating. |
| 40% | 30% | Chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity. |
| 100% | 100% | For 12 months following the replacement. After which, Veteran will be rated the minimum. |
5215 Ratings Based Off Limitations of Range of Motion (ROM)
For how much range of motion a normal wrist has. The VA really has an extremely narrow band of consideration. In terms of what constitutes a compensational disability.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
You CANNOT get separate evaluations for dorisflexion and palmar flexion, you get rated under one or the other!
Dorsiflexion
Ability to bend your hand up, so your palm faces the wall.
| Rating |
Can Bend |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Less than 15°. |
Palmar Flexion
Ability to bend your hand down, so your palm faces yourself.
| Rating |
Can Bend |
|---|---|
| 10% |
No further than in line with forearm (0°). |
Other Ratings
Miscellaneous
The Veteran will NOT receive an additional rating if they fit the criteria of this miscellaneous case. The Veteran will get a single rating for the ROM or Miscellaneous rating; Whichever rating is higher!
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Pain with motion. |
Arthritis
When a Veteran's arthritis does not warrant a rating based upon ROM or other miscellaneous situations. The Veteran's condition will be rated under degenerative arthritis.
For an explanation of arthritis ratings click HERE.
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