---
title: "DC 5171 - Toe, great, amputation of:"
diagnostic_code: "5171"
body_system: "Musculoskeletal System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.71a"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/musculoskeletal/5171-toe-great-amputation-of"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a"
updated: "2026-07-21T19:41:31.564911Z"
---

# DC 5171 - Toe, great, amputation of:

Rated under § 4.71a. Body system: Musculoskeletal System.

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 30% | With removal of metatarsal head |
| 10% | Without metatarsal involvement |

# Great Toe Amputation — VA Disability Rating (Diagnostic Code 5171)

**Understanding how the VA rates amputation of the great toe under 38 CFR § 4.71a.**

## What This Condition Involves

Diagnostic Code 5171 addresses the **amputation of the great toe**, which falls under the **Musculoskeletal System** in the VA's rating schedule. This rating applies to veterans who have had their great toe surgically or traumatically amputated.

The rating level depends on **whether the amputation involved the metatarsal head** — the rounded end of the long bone in the foot that connects to the base of the toe.

## Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns one of two disability ratings for this condition:

| Rating | Criteria |
|--------|----------|
| **30%** | Amputation with removal of the metatarsal head |
| **10%** | Amputation without metatarsal involvement |

## What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a great toe amputation under Diagnostic Code 5171, the VA focuses on **the extent of the amputation**:

- **Was the metatarsal head removed?** If the amputation included removal of the metatarsal head, the condition is rated at **30%**.
- **Was there no metatarsal involvement?** If the amputation did not involve the metatarsal, the condition is rated at **10%**.

The distinguishing factor between these two rating levels is the involvement of the metatarsal head in the amputation.

---

*This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5171. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome. Individual evaluations are based on the specific medical evidence in each case.*

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.71a