Education · 38 CFR § 4.71a · Bones, joints, and spine (musculoskeletal system) · not your rating · we do not file
Amputation of little finger VA rating (DC 5156)
VA rates amputation of little finger under diagnostic code 5156 in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The rule book lists 10% and 20%. Below: each level in plain English, then the exact words.
Rule-book name: Little finger, amputation of. Last checked against eCFR on 2026-10-10 (eCFR issue 2026-08-27). Official text: 38 CFR § 4.71a on eCFR.
Each rating level in plain English
- Major 20%, Minor 20%: Minor 20%, read the exact words below. We have not mapped this line to plain words, so we quote it rather than guess. The rule book prints different percents by column (Major, Minor), for example dominant ("major") and non-dominant ("minor") arm.
- Major 10%, Minor 10%: Minor 10%, read the exact words below. We have not mapped this line to plain words, so we quote it rather than guess. The rule book prints different percents by column (Major, Minor), for example dominant ("major") and non-dominant ("minor") arm.
Plain words come from our reading aid for the published words. They never add a symptom. The quotes below are the rule.
Exact words in 38 CFR § 4.71a
Major 20%, Minor 20% · “With metacarpal resection (more than one-half the bone lost)”
Major 10%, Minor 10% · “Without metacarpal resection, at proximal interphalangeal joint or proximal thereto”
Notes printed with this code
“Note: The single finger amputation ratings are the only applicable ratings for amputations of whole or part of single fingers.”
What records usually show this
VA reads these things from your records: service treatment records, VA and private treatment records, and the VA claim exam (C&P exam). Read the exact words above next to your own records.
Education only. This does not say you have any of these, and a record that mentions them does not decide a rating. Only write what is true for you. Evidence needed for your disability claim · VA claim exam (C&P exam)
Put your records next to these lines
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Common questions
What percentages does the VA rating schedule list for Amputation of little finger (DC 5156)?
38 CFR § 4.71a lists 10% and 20% for diagnostic code 5156. VA decides which line fits from the evidence. This page is not your rating.
Where do these words come from?
They are quoted from the public eCFR copy of 38 CFR § 4.71a, last checked 2026-10-10. The official page is linked on this page so you can check every word.
Does this page tell me what my rating will be?
No. It shows what the published rule book says. It does not predict a rating, a decision, or a dollar amount, and it does not say you have this condition.
Who can file a VA claim for me for free?
Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) can prepare and file a claim with you at no cost. VA lists accredited representatives on VA.gov. We do not file.
This page quotes the public VA rule book. It is not your rating and not your pay. We do not say you have this condition. We do not file. You, or a free accredited representative, file with VA.
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