What happens during a C&P exam for Wrist 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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Wrist Fracture Residuals

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Wrist Fracture Residuals?

Wrist Fracture Residuals (DC 5214) is rated at 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214. 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.

Q: What rates 60% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 60% rating for Wrist Fracture Residuals requires: 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.

Q: What rates 50% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 50% rating for Wrist Fracture Residuals requires: 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%).

Q: What rates 40% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 40% rating for Wrist Fracture Residuals requires: 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.)

Q: What rates 30% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 30% rating for Wrist Fracture Residuals requires: 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.)

Q: What rates 20% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 20% rating for Wrist Fracture Residuals requires: 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.)

Q: What rates 10% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 10% rating for Wrist 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 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.)

Q: What rates 0% for Wrist Fracture Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5214 (DC 5214), a 0% rating for Wrist Fracture Residuals requires: 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.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Wrist Fracture Residuals VA claim?

Key evidence for a Wrist 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 521438 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5214

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

0–60%

7 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

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.

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

Overview

Residual limitations from a healed wrist fracture including reduced range of motion, pain, and weakness with gripping

Rating Criteria

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.)

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.

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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