Musculoskeletal System§ 4.71aUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5214Wrist, ankylosis of

Rated from 30% to 50% under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.

  1. 50%40% non-dominant

    Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation

  2. 40%30% non-dominant

    Any other position, except favorable

  3. 30%20% non-dominant

    Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion

From the schedule

Notes on this code

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

  • Note: Extremely unfavorable ankylosis will be rated as loss of use of hands under diagnostic code 5125.

Wrist Ankylosis (VA Diagnostic Code 5214)

Musculoskeletal System — 38 CFR § 4.71a

Understanding This Condition

Ankylosis of the wrist refers to a wrist joint that has become stiffened or fixed in a set position, limiting movement. Under VA Diagnostic Code 5214, this condition is rated based on the position in which the wrist is fixed and whether that position is considered favorable or unfavorable for function.

The VA also assigns different rating levels depending on whether the affected wrist is your dominant ("major") or non-dominant ("minor") extremity.

Available Rating Levels

The rating levels below reflect the dominant extremity first, followed by the non-dominant extremity in parentheses.

Rating (Dominant)Rating (Non-Dominant)Criteria
50%40%Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation
40%30%Any other position, except favorable
30%20%Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion

What the VA Looks For

When rating wrist ankylosis, the VA evaluates:

  • The fixed position of the wrist — specifically whether it is set in palmar flexion, ulnar or radial deviation, or dorsiflexion.
  • Whether the position is favorable or unfavorable — a wrist fixed favorably in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion is rated differently from one fixed in a less functional position.
  • Which extremity is affected — dominant versus non-dominant, which affects the assigned percentage.

Note: Extremely unfavorable ankylosis will be rated as loss of use of hands under Diagnostic Code 5125.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5214. 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 5214 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Musculoskeletal System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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