VA Disability Rating for Wrist Injuries: Criteria and 2026 Pay Rates

Wrist injuries are common in military service — from weapons training and hand-to-hand combat to occupational exposures in mechanical, construction, and medical MOSs. Yet wrist conditions are frequently underrated by VA, partly because range-of-motion limitations in a small joint don't always look dramatic. This guide explains the exact rating criteria, what ROM measurements map to which ratings, and the secondary conditions that can increase your total compensation.

Regulatory Basis

VA rates wrist conditions under two primary diagnostic codes in 38 CFR Part 4:

• DC 5214 — Ankylosis of the wrist (dominant or minor hand)
• DC 5215 — Limitation of motion of the wrist

Also relevant to wrist claims:

• 38 CFR § 4.59 — Painful motion: any painful joint warrants at least the minimum compensable rating
• 38 CFR § 4.40 — Functional loss: weakness, incoordination, and pain on use are ratable even when ROM appears adequate
• 38 CFR § 4.68 — Bilateral factor: adds 10% of the combined bilateral value when both extremities are involved

Normal Wrist Range of Motion

VA uses these baseline values when measuring limitation of motion against normal ROM:

Your C&P examiner should measure all planes of motion using a goniometer and record where in the range of motion you experience pain. If pain stops your motion before the mechanical limit, that matters — document it.

Rating Criteria — Limited Motion (DC 5215)

DC 5215 applies when you have reduced but not completely absent wrist motion. Ratings differ based on whether the affected wrist is your dominant or minor hand.

Dominant Hand

Minor (Non-Dominant) Hand

The minor hand receives ratings one step lower than the dominant hand at the same level of impairment. For example, criteria that would yield 20% on the dominant hand yield 10% on the minor hand.

Rating Criteria — Ankylosis (DC 5214)

Ankylosis means complete fusion or loss of motion in the wrist joint. DC 5214 applies when there is essentially no movement remaining. The rating depends on the position in which the wrist has fused — favorable positions (near neutral) receive lower ratings; unfavorable positions (significant palmar flexion or deviation) receive higher ratings.

Painful Motion — The 10% Floor

Under 38 CFR § 4.59, any painful wrist motion warrants at least the minimum compensable rating (10%) — even if your measured ROM technically exceeds the threshold criteria for a rating.

At your C&P exam, you must state clearly at what point in the range of motion you experience pain. Don't silently push through it. If you feel pain at 25° of dorsiflexion but can technically reach 50°, tell the examiner exactly where the pain begins. The examiner should document it, and your rating should reflect it.

Bilateral Wrist Claims

If both wrists are injured from military service, file separately for each wrist. VA rates them individually under the dominant/minor rules, then applies the bilateral factor under § 4.68.

The bilateral factor adds 10% of the combined bilateral value to your overall combined rating. For example, if your two wrist ratings combine to 20%, VA adds 2 additional percentage points before the final round. Over time, bilateral claims can meaningfully increase your total combined disability rating.

Secondary Conditions from Wrist Injuries

A service-connected wrist injury can open the door to additional ratings for secondary conditions — conditions that were caused or aggravated by the wrist injury or the chronic pain it creates. These are filed as secondary service connection and can significantly increase your total combined rating.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome — median nerve compression; extremely common with wrist injuries and repetitive MOS work; rated separately under the peripheral nerve schedule
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis — inflammation of thumb-side wrist tendons; often secondary to repetitive wrist motions
• Elbow and shoulder compensation injuries — wrist weakness causes altered mechanics that overload adjacent joints
• Peripheral nerve damage — median, ulnar, and radial nerve injuries are rated separately and can add substantial ratings
• Depression and anxiety — secondary to chronic pain and functional limitations; rated under mental health schedule (DC 9434 or similar)

High-Risk MOSs for Wrist Injuries

Certain military occupational specialties carry elevated risk for wrist injuries and repetitive stress conditions. If your MOS is on this list, document the specific job duties in your claim narrative:

• 91 series (mechanics, vehicle maintenance) — tool use, torque application, heavy lifting with wrists under load
• 12 series (combat engineers) — construction, heavy equipment operation, demolition handling
• 18 series (Special Forces) — hand-to-hand combat training, weapons handling, rappelling
• Healthcare MOSs (68W, 66 series) — repetitive clinical procedures, patient handling, IV placement
• Artillery crews — repetitive heavy loading and shell handling under high-stress conditions

Building the Claim

A strong wrist disability claim requires documentation that links your service to the injury and accurately captures its current severity. Assemble these items before or alongside your C&P exam:

• Service records documenting wrist injury, treatment, or complaint (STRs, sick call records)
• Goniometer ROM measurements from treating physician — explicitly documenting dominant vs. minor hand
• Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT) showing structural damage, arthritis, or fracture history
• Physician letter documenting pain onset during motion (supports § 4.59)
• Occupational therapy notes documenting functional limitations in grip, lifting, and daily tasks
• Secondary condition nexus letters (carpal tunnel, nerve damage, mental health)

2026 VA Disability Pay Rates

The following monthly and annual compensation figures reflect 2026 VA rates for a veteran with no dependents. Rates increase with additional dependents and combined ratings above 30%.

Veterans with combined ratings of 30% or higher also receive additional monthly compensation for each qualifying dependent (spouse, children, dependent parents). Use claim.vet's free rating calculator to estimate your full compensation based on your specific conditions and dependents.