VA Diagnostic Code 5215Wrist, limitation of motion of
A single 10% rating under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires for it.
Not the right code?
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 10%10% non-dominant
Dorsiflexion less than 15°
- 10%10% non-dominant
Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm
Wrist, Limitation of Motion (Diagnostic Code 5215)
Musculoskeletal System · 38 CFR § 4.71a
Understanding This Condition
Limitation of motion of the wrist refers to a reduced ability to move the wrist through its normal range. Under the VA rating schedule, this condition is evaluated based on how restricted specific wrist movements are.
The VA looks at two particular measurements of wrist movement:
- Dorsiflexion — bending the wrist backward (moving the back of the hand toward the forearm).
- Palmar flexion — bending the wrist forward (moving the palm toward the forearm).
Available Rating Levels
Under Diagnostic Code 5215, the following rating levels are recognized:
| Rating | Criteria | Non-Dominant (Minor) Extremity |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Dorsiflexion less than 15° | 10% |
| 10% | Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm | 10% |
Note that the rating is the same (10%) whether the affected wrist is on the dominant or non-dominant side of the body.
What the VA Looks For
When rating limitation of motion of the wrist, the VA evaluates:
- Whether dorsiflexion is less than 15°, or
- Whether palmar flexion is limited in line with the forearm.
Either of these findings supports a 10% rating under this diagnostic code, and this applies to both the dominant and non-dominant (minor) extremity.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule (38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5215) and is provided for general educational purposes.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5215. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
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.
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.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 5215 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.
Six reads your records against these exact criteria and tells you what the VA is still missing.
Start for freeAll 159 Musculoskeletal System codes →