VA Diagnostic Code 5224Thumb, ankylosis of
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
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 20%20% non-dominant
Unfavorable
- 10%10% non-dominant
Favorable
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note: Also consider whether evaluation as amputation is warranted and whether an additional evaluation is warranted for resulting limitation of motion of other digits or interference with overall function of the hand.
Ankylosis of the Thumb (VA Diagnostic Code 5224)
Understanding how the VA rates a thumb that no longer bends.
What This Condition Is
Ankylosis of the thumb refers to a thumb that has become stiff or fixed in place, limiting or preventing normal movement at the joint. Because the thumb plays a central role in gripping and hand function, the VA evaluates this condition under Diagnostic Code 5224, within the Musculoskeletal System category and governed by § 4.71a of the rating schedule.
Available Rating Levels
The VA rates ankylosis of the thumb based on whether the fixed position is considered "favorable" or "unfavorable." Ratings apply to both the dominant and non-dominant (minor) extremity.
| Rating | Criteria | Non-Dominant (Minor) Extremity |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | Unfavorable | 20% |
| 10% | Favorable | 10% |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating ankylosis of the thumb, the VA considers the following, as noted in the rating criteria:
- Whether evaluation as amputation is warranted — the VA reviews whether the severity of the condition compares to the level of an amputation.
- Whether an additional evaluation is warranted for resulting limitation of motion of other digits, or for interference with the overall function of the hand.
These considerations allow the VA to account for how a fixed thumb may affect not just the thumb itself, but the surrounding fingers and the broader use of the hand.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5224. 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.
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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.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 5224 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Musculoskeletal System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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