Musculoskeletal System§ 4.71aUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5105Anatomical loss of one foot and loss of use of one hand

A single 100% rating under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires for it.

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  1. 100%

    Anatomical loss of one foot and loss of use of one hand

From the schedule

Notes on this code

These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.

  • 1 Also entitled to special monthly compensation.

Anatomical Loss of One Foot and Loss of Use of One Hand (VA Diagnostic Code 5105)

Understanding This Rating

Diagnostic Code 5105 addresses a specific and serious combination of injuries: the anatomical loss of one foot together with the loss of use of one hand. This condition falls under the VA's evaluation of the Musculoskeletal System and is rated according to 38 CFR § 4.71a.

In plain language, this rating applies when a veteran has both lost a foot (anatomical loss) and lost the use of one hand. Because this combination significantly affects a person's ability to function, it is recognized at the highest single rating level available.

Available Rating Level

Under Diagnostic Code 5105, the VA provides one rating level:

RatingWhat It Reflects
100%Anatomical loss of one foot and loss of use of one hand

Additional Consideration

A veteran evaluated under this diagnostic code is also entitled to special monthly compensation (SMC). Special monthly compensation is an additional benefit that may apply on top of the standard disability rating.

What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a claim under Diagnostic Code 5105, the VA looks for evidence of both:

  • Anatomical loss of one foot — the actual loss of the foot, and
  • Loss of use of one hand

Both elements must be present for this rating to apply. Because this evaluation also carries entitlement to special monthly compensation, documentation supporting the loss of the foot and the loss of use of the hand can be important to a complete review of the claim.


This information is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the rating criteria as summarized above. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee any particular outcome. Each claim is evaluated individually by the VA.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5105. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. Find your level in the stack

    Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.

  2. Name the gap

    Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 5105 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Musculoskeletal System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

Find out which rating your evidence supports.

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