EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
← All Condition GuidesCLAIM RECON INTEL
Multiple Finger Amputations
DC 5126 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5126 |
Multiple Finger Amputations is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5126 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5126 across 5 severity tiers (70% / 60% / 50% / 40% / 30%). 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
Amputation of two or more fingers causing severe loss of hand function, grip strength, and fine motor dexterity
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
70%
DC 5126 verbatim — Five digits of one hand: 70 major / 60 minor (footnote 1 SMC). DC 5127-5131 verbatim — Four digits of one hand involving thumb (5 combinations): 70/60.
60%
DC 5132-5137 verbatim — Three-digit amputation combinations involving thumb (thumb+index+long, thumb+index+ring, etc.): 60 percent major / 50 percent minor.
50%
DC 5138-5141 verbatim — Three non-thumb digits (index+long+ring, etc.): 50 major / 40 minor. DC 5144-5147 verbatim — Two-digit amputations involving thumb (thumb+ring, thumb+little, index+long, index+ring): 50 major / 40 minor.
40%
DC 5142-5143 verbatim — Two-digit amputations thumb+index (DC 5142) or thumb+long (DC 5143): 40 percent major / 30 percent minor.
30%
DC 5148-5151 verbatim — Two-digit amputations not involving thumb (index+little, long+ring, long+little, ring+little): 30 percent major / 20 percent minor.
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