Education · 38 CFR § 4.71a · Bones, joints, and spine (musculoskeletal system) · not your rating · we do not file
Ankylosis of wrist VA rating (DC 5214)
VA rates ankylosis of wrist under diagnostic code 5214 in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The rule book lists 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Below: each level in plain English, then the exact words.
Rule-book name: Wrist, ankylosis 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 50%, Minor 40%: Minor 40%, the published words look at: how far you can move the joint or spine. The rule book prints different percents by column (Major, Minor), for example dominant ("major") and non-dominant ("minor") arm.
- Major 40%, Minor 30%: Minor 30%, 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 30%, Minor 20%: Minor 20%, the published words look at: how far you can move the joint or spine. 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 50%, Minor 40% · “Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation”
Major 40%, Minor 30% · “Any other position, except favorable”
Major 30%, Minor 20% · “Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion”
Notes printed with this code
“Note: Extremely unfavorable ankylosis will be rated as loss of use of hands under diagnostic code 5125.”
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). The published words on this page talk about:
- How far you can move the joint or spine: usually found in a test or exam result in your records. The rule book reads this number from the test, not from a statement.
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
Statement review checks your own statement against the published words for this code and points out what it does not cover yet. It does not write it for you. Ask My Records finds where your uploaded records mention these topics and shows the page number.
Save this and organize your records - start free
14-day free trial, then $9.99/month or $107.99/year. No success fees, never a cut of your VA pay.
Prefer free, hands-on help? Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) can file a claim with you at no cost. Find accredited help on VA.gov.
Common questions
What percentages does the VA rating schedule list for Ankylosis of wrist (DC 5214)?
38 CFR § 4.71a lists 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% for diagnostic code 5214. 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.
Veterans Benefits AI · veteransbenefitsai.com · MAOMA Enterprises LLC. Veterans Benefits AI (veteransbenefitsai.com) is not affiliated with similarly named sites such as veteransbenefits.ai, with any VA GPT or chatbot, or with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.