EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Wrist Osteoarthritis
DC 5003 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5003 |
Wrist Osteoarthritis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5003 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5003 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
Degenerative joint disease of the wrist with cartilage loss, bone spurs, and progressive stiffness reducing wrist motion
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
50%
DC 5214 Major arm "Wrist, ankylosis of: Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) Per DC 5214 Note: "Extremely unfavorable ankylosis will be rated as loss of use of hands under diagnostic code 5125" (60% Major / 50% Minor + SMC entitlement per § 3.350 footnote).
40%
DC 5214 Major arm "Wrist, ankylosis of: Any other position, except favorable" = 40%; OR DC 5214 Minor arm "Unfavorable" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.)
30%
DC 5214 Major arm "Wrist, ankylosis of: Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 30%; OR DC 5214 Minor arm "Any other position, except favorable" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.)
20%
DC 5214 Minor arm "Wrist, ankylosis of: Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only: "With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) Per NOTE 1, X-ray-only ratings do NOT combine with ROM-based ratings.
10%
DC 5215 "Wrist, limitation of motion of: Dorsiflexion less than 15°" = 10% (Major or Minor — verbatim 10/10); OR DC 5215 "Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm" = 10% (Major or Minor); OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback (one major joint affected with painful-motion / swelling / muscle-spasm objective finding) = 10%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2 or more major joints" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5003 / DC 5215.) The 10% DC 5003 fallback applies once per major joint — the wrist is ONE major joint per § 4.45.
0%
X-ray-confirmed wrist arthritis without compensable ROM under DC 5215 (dorsiflexion ≥15° AND palmar flexion not limited in line with forearm) AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion / swelling / muscle-spasm findings supporting the DC 5003 10% single-joint fallback.
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