VA Diagnostic Code 5227Ring or little finger, ankylosis of
A single 0% 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.
- 0%0% non-dominant
Unfavorable or 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 Ring or Little Finger (Diagnostic Code 5227)
Understanding This Condition
Ankylosis means a joint has become stiff or fixed in place, limiting or eliminating its ability to move. Diagnostic Code 5227 covers ankylosis of the ring finger or little finger on either hand.
This condition falls under the Musculoskeletal System and is rated under § 4.71a of the VA rating schedule.
Available Rating Levels
Under this diagnostic code, the rating levels are:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Unfavorable or favorable ankylosis |
| 0% (non-dominant extremity) | Unfavorable or favorable ankylosis of the ring or little finger on the non-dominant hand |
The rating is 0% whether the ankylosis is favorable or unfavorable, and whether it affects the dominant or non-dominant hand.
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating ankylosis of the ring or little finger, the VA also considers the following, as noted in the rating schedule:
- Whether evaluation as an amputation is warranted — in some cases, the impact of the condition may be assessed under amputation criteria instead.
- Whether an additional evaluation is warranted for resulting limitation of motion of other digits — if the ankylosis affects the movement of nearby fingers.
- Whether there is interference with the overall function of the hand — the broader effect on how the hand works.
These considerations help ensure that the full impact of the condition on hand function is accounted for.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under Diagnostic Code 5227, § 4.71a. 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 5227. 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 5227 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 →