Rating Schedule for the Hand
This schedule can get a little complicated. So please carefully examine the tables.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
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!
Amputation Rule
Veteran CANNOT be rated higher for disabilities of a hand that would Combine to be more than a Veteran who has had an amputation of their hand.
Which would be 70% for the dominant hand and 60% for the non-dominant hand.
NOTE:
If the Veteran is ambidextrous. Then whichever hand is affected will be considered dominant.
Amputation of Fingers
Please refer to the above image to get an understanding of the degrees of severity of partial amputations (A-D).
IMPORTANT NOTES:
In the event the Veteran has amputations involving differing degrees of severity the AVERAGE will be used.
In the event the average ends in a tie, the Veteran will get the higher of the two.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
When two or more fingers of the same hand are affected by any combination of amputation, ankylosis, or limitation of motion that is not otherwise specified in the rating schedule, the evaluation level assigned will be that which best represents the overall disability (i.e., amputation, unfavorable or favorable ankylosis, or limitation of motion), assigning the higher level of evaluation when the level of disability is equally balanced between one level and the next higher level.
5152/5156 Amputation of a Single Finger
When a Veteran has had a single finger (wholly or partially) amputated.
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0% | X | X | |||||||
| 0% | 0% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 0% | 0% | X | X | |||||||
| 0% | 0% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | |||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | |||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X |
5142/5151 Amputation of Two Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | ||||||
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| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | ||||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X |
5132/5141 Amputation of Three Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | |||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X |
5127/5131 Amputation of Four Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
If one of the four fingers amputated is the thumb. The Veteran is entitled to Special Monthly Compensation.
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X |
5126 Amputation of Five Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
The Veteran is entitled to Special Monthly Compensation.
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| 70% | 60% | X | X | X | X | X | X |
5224/5227 Loss of Use of Fingers (Ankylosis)
When the finger joints cannot be moved at all (ankylosis). Loss of use also applies to partial amputation of fingers. In Veterans who have losses involving more than one finger (on a single hand).
There are two grades of loss of use Favorable and Unfavorable.
Favorable
Amputations: Up to, but not including the palm.
Lose of use: The second and third knuckles are stuck at 30°; OR the second or third knuckles are stuck but result with finger being within 2 inches or less of the palm when attempting to ball your fist; OR the thumb is within 2 inches or less from the palm.
Unfavorable
Amputations: Into the palm meat.
Lose of use: Anything not within the range of favorable.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
When two or more fingers of the same hand are affected by any combination of amputation, ankylosis, or limitation of motion that is not otherwise specified in the rating schedule, the evaluation level assigned will be that which best represents the overall disability (i.e., amputation, unfavorable or favorable ankylosis, or limitation of motion), assigning the higher level of evaluation when the level of disability is equally balanced between one level and the next higher level.
Loss of Use of One Finger
NOTE:
Under this schedule, there is additional consideration given to fingers that have more than one joints frozen. Moving from fingertip to palm would have the joints counted as 1-3.
KEY
? = wildcard, any other joints combinations not listed
'=' =, same rating if the finger is favorable or unfavorable
Dom = Dominant Rating
Non-Dom = Non-Dominant Rating
Fav = Favorable
UnF = Unfavorable
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | Joint 1 | Joint 2 | Joint 3 | Fav | UnF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0% | X | ? | ? | ? | = | = | ||||
| 0% | 0% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 0% | 0% | X | ? | ? | ? | = | = | ||||
| 0% | 0% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | ? | ? | ? | = | = | ||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | ? | ? | ? | = | = | ||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 10% | 10% | X | ? | ? | ? | X | |||||
| 20% | 20% | X | ? | ? | ? | X | |||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X |
Loss of Use of Two Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | Favorable | Unfavorable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | ||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | ||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 10% | 10% | X | X | X | ||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | ||||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | ||||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X |
Loss of Use of Three Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | Favorable | Unfavorable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 30% | 20% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | |||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X |
Loss of Use of Four Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | Favorable | Unfavorable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 30% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X |
Loss of Use of Five Fingers
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fingers must be from the same hand. You cannot add fingers from your other hand!
| Dominant Rating | Non-Dominant Rating | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky | Favorable | Unfavorable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | 40% | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 60% | 50% | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Limitation of Range of Motion
The reduced ability to move.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
When two or more fingers of the same hand are affected by any combination of amputation, ankylosis, or limitation of motion that is not otherwise specified in the rating schedule, the evaluation level assigned will be that which best represents the overall disability (i.e., amputation, unfavorable or favorable ankylosis, or limitation of motion), assigning the higher level of evaluation when the level of disability is equally balanced between one level and the next higher level.
5228 Thumb
The only motion the VA cares about with the thumb is how close the thumb can come to the fingers. Imagine you are trying to pin something between your thumb and fingers. Or that you are making a dog shadow puppet, and you want to close its mouth.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% |
Can almost touch your fingers. |
| 10% | Can move to within 1-2 inches of your fingers. |
| 20% | Cannot move to within 2 inches of your fingers. |
Miscellaneous Ratings
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
The Veteran will NOT receive an additional rating if they fit the criteria of any of these miscellaneous cases. The Veteran will get a single rating for the ROM or Miscellaneous rating; Whichever rating is higher!
Pain with Motion
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
You CAN get a 10% rating for pain with motion each thumb, index, and middle finger.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 0% |
Pain with motion: Ring and pinky fingers. |
| 10% | Pain with motion of: Thumb, index, or middle fingers. |
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.
Having Trouble Finding Your Condition?
Click HERE to view the Master Condition List.