EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
DC 5024 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5024 |
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5024 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5024 across 3 severity tiers (20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Painful tenosynovitis affecting the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons on the thumb side of the wrist
RATING CRITERIA (3 LEVELS)
20%
DC 5224 "Thumb, ankylosis of: unfavorable" = 20% (Major or Minor — verbatim 20/20); DC 5214 Minor "Wrist, ankylosis favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) ⚠ DC 5003 X-ray-only does NOT apply per Note 2.
10%
DC 5224 "Thumb, ankylosis of: favorable" = 10% (Major or Minor); DC 5228 "Thumb, limitation of motion: With a gap of one to two inches between thumb pad and fingers" = 10%; DC 5215 "Wrist, limitation of motion: Dorsiflexion <15° OR palmar flexion limited in line with forearm" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint / single-group fallback with objectively-confirmed painful motion / swelling / muscle spasm = 10%. ⚠ X-ray-only NOT available per Note 2.
0%
Diagnosed De Quervain's tenosynovitis without compensable ROM at the wrist (DC 5215) OR thumb (DC 5224/5228) AND without objectively-confirmed painful motion / swelling / muscle spasm. Positive Finkelstein test alone is diagnostic but does NOT establish compensable functional loss.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026