VA Disability Rating for Group IX. Function: The forearm muscles act in strong grasping movements and are supplemented by the intrinsic muscles in delicate manipulative movements. Intrinsic muscles of hand: Thenar eminence; short flexor, opponens, abductor and adductor of thumb; hypothenar eminence; short flexor, opponens and abductor of little finger; 4 lumbricales; 4 dorsal and 3 palmar interossei (DC 5309)

Diagnostic Code 5309 covers injuries to the small muscles in your hand and forearm that control gripping and fine finger movements - like the muscles that help you pinch, grasp objects, or move your fingers precisely. The VA doesn't have specific rating percentages for this code, so they rate it based on how much your range of motion is limited, with a minimum 10% rating. This means they'll look at how well you can move your fingers, thumb, and wrist rather than using a standard rating table.