EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5215 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 |
Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5215 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 across 6 severity tiers (50% / 40% / 30% / 20% / 10%…). 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
Residuals of a fracture to the scaphoid (navicular) bone in the wrist, prone to nonunion and avascular necrosis due to limited blood supply
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
50%
DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis of: Unfavorable" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) End-stage SNAC IV wrist with pancarpal arthrodesis or spontaneous ankylosis in malposition.
40%
DC 5214 Major "Any other position, except favorable" = 40%; DC 5214 Minor "Unfavorable" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) SNAC III/IV with significant fixed deformity.
30%
DC 5214 Major "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 30%; DC 5214 Minor "Any other position" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) Surgical partial or full carpal arthrodesis residual in favorable position.
20%
DC 5214 Minor "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations" = 20% (SNAC progression involves radioscaphoid → midcarpal arthritis = 2+ joint groups). (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
10%
DC 5215 "Wrist, limitation of motion: Dorsiflexion <15°" = 10% (Major or Minor); DC 5215 "Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-major-joint fallback (wrist is one major joint per § 4.45) with painful motion at scaphoid tubercle / anatomic snuffbox + positive scaphoid shift test = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Scaphoid fracture fully healed with normal ROM, no SNAC progression on imaging, no painful-motion findings. Most acutely-managed Type I scaphoid fractures (waist or distal pole, well-aligned) heal completely.
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