Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
This diagnostic code covers favorable ankylosis (permanent stiffening in a usable position) of three fingers on one hand. The VA rates this from 20% to 40% depending on which fingers are affected and whether the affected hand is your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) hand. Thumb plus any two fingers rates 40% on the dominant hand or 30% on the non-dominant hand. Index plus long plus ring, or index plus long plus little, or index plus ring plus little rates 30% on the dominant hand or 20% on the non-dominant hand. Long, ring, and little fingers together rates 20% on either hand.
Rating levels
- 40% — You qualify for this rating if you have favorable ankylosis (stiff, fused joints that are stuck in a useful position) affecting your thumb plus any two other fingers on the same hand. The joints must be permanently fixed in place but positioned in a way that still allows you to use your hand for basic gripping and grasping tasks.
- 30% — You qualify for this rating if you have favorable ankylosis (permanent stiffening in a useful position) affecting your thumb plus any two other fingers on the same hand. The affected digits must be completely stiff but positioned in a way that still allows some hand function, such as gripping objects.
- 30% — This rating applies when three specific fingers on one hand are stuck in a fixed position that makes it difficult to use your hand normally. The affected fingers must be either your index, middle, and ring fingers; your index, middle, and pinky fingers; or your index, ring, and pinky fingers. Unfavorable ankylosis means the fingers are fused or locked in a position that significantly limits your ability to grip, grasp, or perform fine motor tasks with that hand.
- 20% — You qualify for this rating if you have favorable ankylosis (joints that are fused or locked in a useful, functional position) affecting exactly three specific fingers on one hand. The three-finger combinations that qualify are: index, middle, and ring fingers; index, middle, and little fingers; or index, ring, and little fingers.
- 20% — Your long finger (middle finger), ring finger, and little finger are permanently stiff and stuck in a position that actually helps your hand function better. The joints in these three fingers cannot bend or move, but they're frozen in a useful position that still allows you to grip and hold objects reasonably well.
- 20% — Your long finger (middle finger), ring finger, and little finger are permanently stiff and stuck in a position that actually helps your hand function better. The joints in these three fingers cannot bend or move, but they're frozen in a useful position that still allows you to grip and hold objects reasonably well.