Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
Wrist ankylosis means your wrist joint has become completely fused or locked in one position due to injury, disease, or surgery. The VA rates this condition from 20% to 40% based on what position your wrist is stuck in and how that affects your daily function. A 40% rating goes to the worst positions that severely limit hand use, while 20% is for the most favorable position where you retain decent function.
Rating levels
- 50% — Your wrist is completely stiff and fused in a bad position that makes it hard to use your hand effectively. This includes being stuck bent toward your palm (palmar flexion), bent sideways toward your pinky finger (ulnar deviation), or bent sideways toward your thumb (radial deviation). Any of these positions severely limits your ability to perform normal hand and wrist movements.
- 40% — Your wrist is completely stiff and fused in a bad position that interferes with normal hand function. This includes being stuck bent toward your palm (palmar flexion), angled toward your pinky finger side (ulnar deviation), or angled toward your thumb side (radial deviation) - any of these positions make it difficult to use your hand for everyday activities.
- 40% — Your wrist is completely fused (ankylosis means the joint is stuck and cannot move at all) in any position other than the most useful one for daily activities. The "favorable" position would be the best angle for your wrist to be stuck at for doing everyday tasks, but your wrist is fused in a less helpful or awkward position that makes it harder to use your hand effectively.
- 30% — Your wrist is completely fused (ankylosis means the joint cannot move at all) in any position other than the most useful one for daily activities. The "favorable" position would be slightly bent back, which allows for the best grip and function, but your wrist is stuck in a different angle that makes everyday tasks more difficult.
- 30% — Your wrist is completely fused or locked in a fixed position (ankylosis), but it's stuck in a favorable position where your hand is bent upward at the wrist between 20 to 30 degrees (dorsiflexion). This means you cannot move your wrist at all, but the position it's frozen in allows for reasonably functional use of your hand for daily activities.
- 20% — Your wrist is completely fused or locked in place (ankylosis) but positioned in a favorable angle where your hand is bent upward between 20 to 30 degrees from neutral position (dorsiflexion). This positioning allows you to perform most daily activities reasonably well despite having no wrist movement.