Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Hand and Fingers
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 fingers on one hand are ankylosed (the joints are fused and no longer bend) in a favorable position. The qualifying combinations are: index, middle, and ring fingers; index, middle, and little fingers; or index, ring, and little fingers. For the fingers, the rating schedule treats ankylosis as favorable when only one of the two main joints of the finger (the knuckle or the middle joint) is fused and the fingertip can still come within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the crease across the palm when the finger is bent as far as it will go.
- 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.