EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Finger Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5230 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 |
Finger Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5230 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 across 4 severity tiers (30% / 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
Residual stiffness, pain, and limited motion from a healed finger phalanx or metacarpal fracture affecting grip and dexterity
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
For multi-digit involvement following severe finger fracture, rate under DC 5216-5223 (multiple-digit ankylosis): e.g., DC 5219 Major "Thumb and any finger, two digits unfavorable ankylosis" = 40%/30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5216-5223.)
20%
DC 5224 Major "Thumb ankylosis: unfavorable" = 20% (when thumb fracture progresses to ankylosis); DC 5219 Minor 2-digit unfavorable = 20-30%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ minor joint groups" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
10%
DC 5224 "Thumb ankylosis: favorable" = 10% (Major or Minor); DC 5225 "Index finger ankylosis (favorable or unfavorable)" = 10%; DC 5226 "Long finger ankylosis (any position)" = 10%; DC 5228 "Thumb limitation of motion: gap of 1-2 inches between pad and fingers" = 10%; DC 5229 "Index or long finger limitation: gap of 1 inch palmar crease + extension limited by >30°" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-minor-joint-group fallback (hand) with painful motion / palpable nonunion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
DC 5230 verbatim — "Ring or little finger limitation of motion: Any limitation of motion" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5230.) DC 5227 (Ring or little finger ankylosis, any position): also 0%. Ring and little finger residuals are NON-COMPENSABLE under their specific DCs. To compensate residual ring/little finger fracture, must rate by analogy (e.g., severe contracture functionally equivalent to amputation → DC 5156/5157 amputation residual).
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