In this ultimate guide, we’ll explain how the VA rates the wrist to include simple and made easy explanations of the rating criteria.
VA disability for wrist conditions, including wrist pain, range from 10% to 70% with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%.
The VA rates the wrist using multiple Diagnostic Codes (DC) from CFR Title 38, Part 4, the Schedule for Rating Disabilities, depending on the condition name, the severity of the limitation of range of motion (if any), and whether your wrist pain affects your major wrist (dominant), minor wrist (non-dominant), or both wrists for the bilateral factor.
Your final VA rating for wrist conditions depends on the frequency (how often), severity (how bad), and duration (how long) of symptoms and how those symptoms negatively impact your work, life, and social functioning.
Let’s begin!
- Summary of Key Concepts
- What is Wrist Pain?
- Symptoms of Wrist Pain in Veterans
- Wrist Pain Risk Factors in Veterans
- What are the VA Disability Ratings for Wrist Pain?
- What is the VA Rating for Wrist Tendonitis?
- What is the VA Rating for Ganglion Cyst?
- What is the VA Disability Rating for Arthritis of the Wrist?
- What is the VA Rating for Carpal Tunnel?
- What is the VA Rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
- What is the VA Rating for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?
- What is the Bilateral Factor for Wrist Ratings?
- About the Author
Summary of Key Concepts
- Wrist pain on its own is rated at 10%, which is the minimum compensable VA rating.
- Wrist pain with limitation of range of motion less than 15 degrees is rated at 10%.
- Wrist pain with limitation of range of motion between 20 and 30 degrees is rated at 30% for the major wrist (dominant) and 20% for the minor (non-dominant).
- Wrist pain with more severe limitation of range of motion is rated between 30% and 50% with a break at 40%.
- Severe wrist pain with the complete loss of use of your wrist is rated at 70% for your dominant (major) wrist and 60% for the non-dominant (minor) wrist.
- Wrist tendonitis is rated from 10% to 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
- Ganglion cyst is rated from 10% to 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
- Wrist arthritis, including degenerative arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis, is rated between 10% and 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
- Osteoarthritis of the wrist is rated at either 10% or 20%.
- Rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist is rated from 20% to 100% with breaks at 40% and 60%.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrist has VA ratings that range from 10% to 70% with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%.
- Cubital tunnel syndrome of the wrist has VA ratings from 10% to 60% with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis of the wrist is rated from 10% to 70% with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%.
- Wrist conditions can include the VA’s bilateral rating factor if you have disabilities that affect both wrists.
What is Wrist Pain?
Wrist pain refers to discomfort or pain experienced in the wrist joint, which is where the hand connects to the forearm.
It can result from a variety of causes, including injury, overuse, repetitive strain, arthritis, or underlying medical conditions.
Common causes of wrist pain in veterans include:
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): Activities that involve repetitive motions or overuse of the wrist, such as typing, playing musical instruments, or using hand tools, can lead to RSI.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes compressed or irritated as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. It can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and wrist.
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the wrist joint, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Sprains and Strains: Injury to the ligaments, tendons, or muscles in the wrist can result in pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.
- Fractures: A broken bone in the wrist, such as a fracture of the radius or ulna, can cause severe pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the wrist.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons in the wrist, often due to overuse or repetitive motions, can cause pain and swelling.
- Ganglion Cysts: These are noncancerous lumps filled with fluid that often develop along tendons or joints in the wrist or hand, causing pain or discomfort.
- Infections: Infections in the wrist joint or surrounding tissues can cause pain, swelling, redness, and warmth.
Symptoms of Wrist Pain in Veterans
The symptoms of wrist pain can vary depending on the underlying cause, but common signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain: Pain in the wrist can range from mild to severe and may be sharp, dull, throbbing, or achy. The pain may be localized to the wrist joint or may radiate to the hand, forearm, or fingers.
- Swelling: Swelling or inflammation in the wrist joint may cause the area to appear larger than usual or feel tender to the touch.
- Stiffness: Stiffness or decreased range of motion in the wrist joint may make it difficult to bend, straighten, or rotate the wrist.
- Weakness: Weakness in the wrist or hand may occur, making it challenging to grip objects or perform daily activities.
- Tingling or Numbness: Tingling, numbness, or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hand or fingers may indicate nerve compression or irritation, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Difficulty Performing Tasks: Wrist pain may interfere with daily activities such as typing, writing, gripping objects, or lifting.
- Visible Deformity: In cases of fractures or severe injuries, there may be a visible deformity or abnormal positioning of the wrist
- Warmth or Redness: Inflammatory conditions or infections may cause the skin around the wrist joint to feel warm, red, or swollen.
- Clicking or Popping Sensation: Some individuals may experience a clicking, popping, or grinding sensation when moving the wrist, which can indicate underlying joint issues.
Wrist Pain Risk Factors in Veterans
Wrist pain can affect veterans due to a variety of factors, including their military service experiences.
Here are some potential risk factors among veterans:
- Combat Injuries: Veterans may have sustained injuries to their wrists during combat, including fractures, sprains, or strains, which can lead to chronic wrist pain.
- Repetitive Tasks: Military service often involves performing repetitive tasks, such as carrying heavy gear, using hand tools, or operating machinery, which can contribute to overuse injuries and wrist pain.
- Training and Physical Demands: Military training and physical activities may place significant stress on the wrists, increasing the risk of injuries or musculoskeletal issues.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Veterans with PTSD may experience increased muscle tension or hypervigilance, which can contribute to musculoskeletal pain, including wrist pain.
- Joint Conditions: Veterans may develop arthritis or other joint conditions as a result of injuries sustained during military service, leading to chronic wrist pain and stiffness.
- Environmental Exposures: Exposure to environmental hazards during military service, such as extreme temperatures, chemical agents, or repetitive vibrations from vehicles or equipment, may contribute to wrist pain and other musculoskeletal problems.
- Prolonged Wear of Protective Gear: Wearing heavy protective gear or carrying heavy loads for extended periods during military operations can place strain on the wrists and contribute to pain and discomfort.
- Age and Overall Health: Older veterans or those with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, may be at increased risk of developing wrist pain due to age-related changes in joint health or complications from underlying medical conditions.
- Lack of Access to Healthcare: Some veterans may face barriers to accessing healthcare services, including timely diagnosis and treatment of wrist pain, which can exacerbate symptoms and lead to chronic issues.
What are the VA Disability Ratings for Wrist Pain?
Wrist pain, to include sprains, strains, fractures, tendonitis, arthritis, and ganglion cysts are generally rated under DC 5214 or 5215 depending on the severity of the condition and whether it affects your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) wrist.
Wrist pain by itself is rated at 10% under DC 5215 unless there is limitation of range of motion beyond 15 degrees.
Wrist pain with limitation of range of motion is rated from 20% to 50% with breaks at 30% and 40% under DC 5214.
The minimum rating for wrist pain is 10% while the maximum scheduler rating for wrist pain is 50%.
If you have lost the use of your wrist entirely, the rating is 70% for your dominant wrist and 60% for the non-dominant wrist.
DC 5125, Loss of Use of the Wrist:
- Extremely unfavorable ankylosis rate the major wrist at 70% and the minor wrist at 60%.
Explanation of terms:
This means you have complete loss of use of the wrist.
Ankylosis is a medical term referring to the stiffening or immobility of a joint due to abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones.
The phrase “major wrist” refers to the dominant wrist while the “minor wrist” is the non-dominant.
DC 5214, Wrist Pain with Ankylosis:
- Unfavorable, in any degree of palmar flexion, or with ulnar or radial deviation rate the major wrist at 50% and the minor wrist at 40%.
- Any other position, except favorable rate the major wrist at 40% and the minor wrist at 30%.
- Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion rate the major wrist at 30% and the minor wrist at 20%.
Explanation of terms:
“Unfavorable” indicates conditions or positions that are not conducive to proper wrist function.
“Palmar flexion” refers to bending the wrist forward toward the palm.
“Ulnar deviation” and “radial deviation” refer to bending the wrist toward the ulnar (inner) or radial (outer) sides of the forearm, respectively.
“Favorable” in this context likely refers to a position that is considered optimal or least likely to lead to ankylosis.
“Dorsiflexion” refers to bending the wrist backward, towards the back of the hand.
DC 5215, Limitation of Motion of the Wrist:
- Dorsiflexion less than 15° rate the major and minor wrist at 10%.
- Palmar flexion limited in line with forearm rate the major and minor wrist at 10%.
Explanation of terms:
“Dorsiflexion” refers to the backward bending of the wrist, moving the hand towards the back of the forearm.
“Less than 15°” indicates a measurement of the angle of dorsiflexion. In this case, it means if the wrist can’t bend backward more than 15 degrees from its neutral position.
“Palmar flexion” refers to the forward bending of the wrist, moving the hand towards the palm side of the forearm.
“Limited in line with forearm” suggests that the wrist cannot bend forward beyond a certain point where the palm remains in line with the forearm rather than bending further downward.
What is the VA Rating for Wrist Tendonitis?
The VA rates wrist tendonitis from 10% to 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
Wrist tendonitis is evaluated under DC 5214 or DC 5215 and the rating depends on whether the condition affects the major (dominant) vs. minor (non-dominant) wrist.
The greater the limitation of range of motion, the higher the VA rating you’ll receive for wrist tendonitis.
If you have wrist tendonitis with painful motion you should at least be assigned the minimum compensable rating of 10%.
What is the VA Rating for Ganglion Cyst?
The VA rates ganglion cyst from 10% to 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
However, the most common VA rating for ganglion cyst is 10%.
Ganglion cysts of the wrist are rated analogously under DC 5214 or DC 5215 if the condition affects the major (dominant) vs. minor (non-dominant) wrist or presents with more severe symptoms.
What is the VA Disability Rating for Arthritis of the Wrist?
The VA can use multiple DCs to rate arthritis of the wrist.
Wrist arthritis is most often rated under DC 5214 of DC 5215 depending on the severity of the arthritis and whether you have limitation of range of motion with ratings from 10% to 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
The most common VA rating for arthritis of wrist is 10%.
Arthritis of the wrist can also be rated under DC 5002 for multi-joint arthritis from 20% to 100% with breaks at 40% and 60% or DC 5003 for degenerative arthritis from 10% to 20%.
Osteoarthritis is rated under DC 5003 with ratings of either 10% or 20% while rheumatoid arthritis is rated under DC 5002 with ratings from 20% to 100% with breaks at 40% and 60%.
What is the VA Rating for Carpal Tunnel?
The VA ratings for Carpal Tunnel range from 10% to 70% with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%, depending on whether it impacts your non-dominant (minor) versus dominant (major) hand.
The most common Carpal Tunnel Syndrome VA rating is 10%, which is “mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.”
Carpal Tunnel does not have its own DC so it’s rated analogous to DC 8515 for paralysis of the median nerve.
Here are the VA ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome in table format:
| DC 8515, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Major (Dominant) | Minor (Non-Dominant) |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand); pronation incomplete and defective, absence of flexion of index finger and feeble flexion of middle finger, cannot make a fist, index and middle fingers remain extended; cannot flex distal phalanx of thumb, defective opposition and abduction of the thumb, at right angles to palm; flexion of wrist weakened; pain with trophic disturbances | 70% | 60% |
| Incomplete Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: | ||
| Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | 50% | 40% |
| Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | 30% | 20% |
| Mild Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | 10% | 10% |
What is the VA Rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
The VA rates cubital tunnel syndrome under DC 8616 for neuritis (described as “paralysis of the ulnar nerve”).
The ratings range from 10% to 60% with breaks at 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.
Here are the VA ratings for cubital tunnel syndrome in table format:
| DC 8616, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome | Major (Dominant) | Minor (Non-Dominant) |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Cubital Tunnel Syndrome; the “griffin claw” deformity, due to flexor contraction of ring and little fingers, atrophy very marked in dorsal interspace and thenar and hypothenar eminences; loss of extension of ring and little fingers cannot spread the fingers (or reverse), cannot adduct the thumb; flexion of wrist weakened | 60% | 50% |
| Incomplete Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: | ||
| Severe Cubital Tunnel Syndrome | 40% | 30% |
| Moderate Cubital Tunnel Syndrome | 30% | 20% |
| Mild Cubital Tunnel Syndrome | 10% | 10% |
What is the VA Rating for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?
The VA usually rates De Quervain’s tenosynovitis under DC 5214 for wrist ankylosis with ratings ranging from 10% to 50% with breaks at 20%, 30%, and 40%.
However, if you have minor limitation of range of motion of the wrist (or pain), the condition is rated under DC 5215 at 10%, which is the minimum compensable rating.
If you have extremely unfavorable wrist ankylosis due to your De Quervain tenosynovitis, the condition is rated under DC 5125 for the loss of use of hands with ratings of either 60% (non-dominant wrist) or 70% (dominant wrist).
What is the Bilateral Factor for Wrist Ratings?
The bilateral rating factor for wrist conditions recognizes that having disabilities affecting both wrists (bilateral) can result in more significant limitations than if the disabilities were only present in one wrist (unilateral).
Here’s how the bilateral factor works for VA disabilities of the wrist:
- Step #1. Rate Each Wrist Separately: Each wrist is first rated separately according to one of the DCs above.
- Step #2. Combine Individual Ratings: The separate wrist disability ratings are then combined using the VA’s Combined Ratings Table to arrive at a total percentage that reflects the overall level of disability without the bilateral factor applied.
- Step #3. Apply the Bilateral Factor: If you have qualifying bilateral wrist disabilities, the VA adds an extra 10% to the combined rating of the bilateral conditions. Note: This is not a simple addition of 10 percentage points to the final combined rating. Instead, the 10% is added to the combined rating of just the bilateral conditions before they are combined with any other disabilities. This is done by taking the combined rating for the bilateral conditions, calculating 10% of that rating, and then adding that figure to the original combined rating of the bilateral conditions. This can get confusing so we created a bilateral VA disability calculator to help you.
- Step #4. Apply the Final Disability Rating: This adjusted rating for the bilateral wrist disabilities is then combined with ratings for any other disabilities you have, using the same combined ratings table a second time to determine the final overall combined VA disability rating.
About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
