VA Diagnostic Code 5173Toes, three or four, amputation of, without metatarsal involvement:
Rated from 10% to 20% under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 20%
Including great toe
- 10%
Not including great toe
Amputation of Three or Four Toes (Without Metatarsal Involvement)
VA Diagnostic Code 5173 — Musculoskeletal System (38 CFR § 4.71a)
Understanding This Condition
Diagnostic Code 5173 covers the amputation of three or four toes on a foot, in cases where the metatarsal bones (the long bones in the mid-foot that connect to the toes) are not involved. This rating applies specifically to the loss of the toes themselves.
The VA assigns a disability rating based on which toes were amputated—particularly whether the great toe (big toe) is among them.
Available Rating Levels
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 20% | Amputation of three or four toes, including the great toe |
| 10% | Amputation of three or four toes, not including the great toe |
What the VA Looks For
When rating under Diagnostic Code 5173, the VA focuses on:
- The number of toes amputated — this code applies to the loss of three or four toes.
- Whether the metatarsal bones are involved — this code applies only when the amputation is without metatarsal involvement.
- Whether the great toe is included — the presence or absence of the great toe among the amputated toes determines whether the higher (20%) or lower (10%) rating applies.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5173. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5173. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
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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.
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File under diagnostic code 5173 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Musculoskeletal System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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