What happens during a C&P exam for Finger Fracture (Residuals)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

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Finger Fracture (Residuals)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Finger Fracture (Residuals)?

Finger Fracture (Residuals) (DC 5230) is rated at 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230. For multi-digit involvement following severe finger fracture, rate under DC 5216-5223 (multiple-digit ankylosis): e.g., DC 5219 Major "Thumb and any finger, two digits unfavorable ankylosis" = 40%/30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5216-5223.)

Q: What rates 30% for Finger Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 (DC 5230), a 30% rating for Finger Fracture (Residuals) requires: For multi-digit involvement following severe finger fracture, rate under DC 5216-5223 (multiple-digit ankylosis): e.g., DC 5219 Major "Thumb and any finger, two digits unfavorable ankylosis" = 40%/30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5216-5223.)

Q: What rates 20% for Finger Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 (DC 5230), a 20% rating for Finger Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5224 Major "Thumb ankylosis: unfavorable" = 20% (when thumb fracture progresses to ankylosis); DC 5219 Minor 2-digit unfavorable = 20-30%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ minor joint groups" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What rates 10% for Finger Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 (DC 5230), a 10% rating for Finger Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5224 "Thumb ankylosis: favorable" = 10% (Major or Minor); DC 5225 "Index finger ankylosis (favorable or unfavorable)" = 10%; DC 5226 "Long finger ankylosis (any position)" = 10%; DC 5228 "Thumb limitation of motion: gap of 1-2 inches between pad and fingers" = 10%; DC 5229 "Index or long finger limitation: gap of 1 inch palmar crease + extension limited by >30°" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-minor-joint-group fallback (hand) with painful motion / palpable nonunion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What rates 0% for Finger Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 (DC 5230), a 0% rating for Finger Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5230 verbatim — "Ring or little finger limitation of motion: Any limitation of motion" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5230.) DC 5227 (Ring or little finger ankylosis, any position): also 0%. Ring and little finger residuals are NON-COMPENSABLE under their specific DCs. To compensate residual ring/little finger fracture, must rate by analogy (e.g., severe contracture functionally equivalent to amputation → DC 5156/5157 amputation residual).

Q: What evidence do I need for a Finger Fracture (Residuals) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Finger Fracture (Residuals) claim includes: 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. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 523038 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5230

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

0–30%

4 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Finger Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5230 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5230 across 4 severity tiers (30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). 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.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Residual stiffness, pain, and limited motion from a healed finger phalanx or metacarpal fracture affecting grip and dexterity

Rating Criteria

30%

For multi-digit involvement following severe finger fracture, rate under DC 5216-5223 (multiple-digit ankylosis): e.g., DC 5219 Major "Thumb and any finger, two digits unfavorable ankylosis" = 40%/30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5216-5223.)

20%

DC 5224 Major "Thumb ankylosis: unfavorable" = 20% (when thumb fracture progresses to ankylosis); DC 5219 Minor 2-digit unfavorable = 20-30%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ minor joint groups" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

10%

DC 5224 "Thumb ankylosis: favorable" = 10% (Major or Minor); DC 5225 "Index finger ankylosis (favorable or unfavorable)" = 10%; DC 5226 "Long finger ankylosis (any position)" = 10%; DC 5228 "Thumb limitation of motion: gap of 1-2 inches between pad and fingers" = 10%; DC 5229 "Index or long finger limitation: gap of 1 inch palmar crease + extension limited by >30°" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-minor-joint-group fallback (hand) with painful motion / palpable nonunion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

DC 5230 verbatim — "Ring or little finger limitation of motion: Any limitation of motion" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5230.) DC 5227 (Ring or little finger ankylosis, any position): also 0%. Ring and little finger residuals are NON-COMPENSABLE under their specific DCs. To compensate residual ring/little finger fracture, must rate by analogy (e.g., severe contracture functionally equivalent to amputation → DC 5156/5157 amputation residual).

03Key Evidence

—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

04C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

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.

View 38 C.F.R. Part 4 on eCFR →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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