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

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

Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) (DC 5215) is rated at 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215. DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis of: Unfavorable" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) End-stage SNAC IV wrist with pancarpal arthrodesis or spontaneous ankylosis in malposition.

Q: What rates 50% for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 (DC 5215), a 50% rating for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis of: Unfavorable" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) End-stage SNAC IV wrist with pancarpal arthrodesis or spontaneous ankylosis in malposition.

Q: What rates 40% for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 (DC 5215), a 40% rating for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5214 Major "Any other position, except favorable" = 40%; DC 5214 Minor "Unfavorable" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) SNAC III/IV with significant fixed deformity.

Q: What rates 30% for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 (DC 5215), a 30% rating for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5214 Major "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 30%; DC 5214 Minor "Any other position" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) Surgical partial or full carpal arthrodesis residual in favorable position.

Q: What rates 20% for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 (DC 5215), a 20% rating for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5214 Minor "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations" = 20% (SNAC progression involves radioscaphoid → midcarpal arthritis = 2+ joint groups). (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What rates 10% for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 (DC 5215), a 10% rating for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) requires: 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 (wrist is one major joint per § 4.45) with painful motion at scaphoid tubercle / anatomic snuffbox + positive scaphoid shift test = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What rates 0% for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 (DC 5215), a 0% rating for Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) requires: Scaphoid fracture fully healed with normal ROM, no SNAC progression on imaging, no painful-motion findings. Most acutely-managed Type I scaphoid fractures (waist or distal pole, well-aligned) heal completely.

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

Key evidence for a Scaphoid 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 521538 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5215

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

0–50%

6 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Scaphoid Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5215 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5215 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.

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

Overview

Residuals of a fracture to the scaphoid (navicular) bone in the wrist, prone to nonunion and avascular necrosis due to limited blood supply

Rating Criteria

50%

DC 5214 Major "Wrist, ankylosis of: Unfavorable" = 50%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) End-stage SNAC IV wrist with pancarpal arthrodesis or spontaneous ankylosis in malposition.

40%

DC 5214 Major "Any other position, except favorable" = 40%; DC 5214 Minor "Unfavorable" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) SNAC III/IV with significant fixed deformity.

30%

DC 5214 Major "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 30%; DC 5214 Minor "Any other position" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5214.) Surgical partial or full carpal arthrodesis residual in favorable position.

20%

DC 5214 Minor "Favorable in 20° to 30° dorsiflexion" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations" = 20% (SNAC progression involves radioscaphoid → midcarpal arthritis = 2+ joint groups). (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 (wrist is one major joint per § 4.45) with painful motion at scaphoid tubercle / anatomic snuffbox + positive scaphoid shift test = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Scaphoid fracture fully healed with normal ROM, no SNAC progression on imaging, no painful-motion findings. Most acutely-managed Type I scaphoid fractures (waist or distal pole, well-aligned) heal completely.

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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