EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Wrist Fracture Residuals
DC 5214 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 |
Wrist Fracture Residuals is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5214 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 across 7 severity tiers (60% / 50% / 40% / 30% / 20%…). 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 limitations from a healed wrist fracture including reduced range of motion, pain, and weakness with gripping
RATING CRITERIA (7 LEVELS)
60%
DC 5212 Major "Radius, impairment of: Nonunion in lower half, with false movement: With loss of bone substance (1 inch / 2.5 cm or more) and marked deformity" = 60% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5212.) Severe nonunion of distal radius with substantial bone loss.
50%
DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis: Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation" = 50% (Major); DC 5212 Minor "Radius nonunion lower half with bone loss" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) Per DC 5214 Note: extremely unfavorable rates as loss of use of hand DC 5125 (60%/50%).
40%
DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis: Any other position, except favorable" = 40% Major; DC 5214 Minor "Unfavorable" = 40%; DC 5212 Major "Radius, nonunion in lower half without bone loss" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
30%
DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis: Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 30%; DC 5214 Minor "Any other position, except favorable" = 30%; DC 5212 "Radius, nonunion in upper half" = 30% Major; DC 5212 "Radius, malunion with bad alignment" = 30% Major. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
20%
DC 5214 Minor "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 20%; DC 5212 Minor "Radius nonunion upper half" = 20%; DC 5212 Minor "Radius malunion" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints with incapacitating exacerbations" = 20%. (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 with painful motion / palpable nonunion at fracture site = 10%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5003 / DC 5215.)
0%
Wrist fracture fully healed with normal ROM (dorsiflexion ≥15° AND palmar flexion not limited in line with forearm), no nonunion / malunion findings, no painful-motion residuals.
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