YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Ankylosis of the Index Finger VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Ankylosis of the Index Finger under diagnostic code 5225, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides a single evaluation under it: 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Ankylosis of the Index Finger
The index finger is fixed in one position and no longer bends. DC 5225 is a single 10 percent evaluation: the schedule does not separate favorable from unfavorable ankylosis for this digit, and it does not separate the dominant hand from the non-dominant one.
DC 5225 has one rating row - 'Unfavorable or favorable' - at 10 percent in both the major (dominant) and minor (non-dominant) columns. Neither the position the finger is fixed in nor hand dominance changes the evaluation; what has to be established is that the index finger is ankylosed. There is no noncompensable tier under this code. The code's note adds: 'Also consider whether evaluation as amputation is warranted and whether an additional evaluation is warranted for resulting limitation of motion of other digits or interference with overall function of the hand.' An index finger that still moves but is restricted is rated under DC 5229 instead, and an index finger ankylosed together with a second digit moves to the multiple-digit codes, DC 5216 through DC 5223.
- Diagnostic code
- 5225
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 10%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
There is no higher or lower step inside this code: a rating decision either finds its criteria met or it does not. Where they are not met, 38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a 0% evaluation: service connection granted, at a level that does not pay.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Ankylosis of the Index Finger VA rating criteria (DC 5225)
This condition has one published rating level. Read the criteria, then explore the details and monthly pay.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Ankylosis of the Index Finger
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: Also consider whether evaluation as amputation is warranted and whether an additional evaluation is warranted for resulting limitation of motion of other digits or interference with overall function of the hand.”DC 5225
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Ankylosis of the Index Finger claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Ankylosis of the Index Finger?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
THE EVERYDAY PICTURE
What the Ankylosis of the Index Finger examination has to record
The criteria above are read off an examination, and three sections of Part 4 govern what that examination has to contain. None of them is a diagnostic code, so none of them appears in the 5225 table, and all three apply to it. 38 CFR § 4.40: “Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled.”
38 CFR § 4.45 lists what an examination of a joint is directed to consider:
- Less movement than normal (due to ankylosis, limitation or blocking, adhesions, tendon-tie-up, contracted scars, etc.).
- More movement than normal (from flail joint, resections, nonunion of fracture, relaxation of ligaments, etc.).
- Weakened movement (due to muscle injury, disease or injury of peripheral nerves, divided or lengthened tendons, etc.).
- Excess fatigability.
- Incoordination, impaired ability to execute skilled movements smoothly.
- Pain on movement, swelling, deformity or atrophy of disuse.
38 CFR § 4.59: “It is the intention to recognize actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint.” So a joint that is painful on use is not a finding of nothing, even where the measured motion is close to normal.
The same section says how the joint is to be tested: “The joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint.” An examination that records one measurement, taken once, sitting down, has not done what the section asks, and that is worth reading the exam report for.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Ankylosis of the Index Finger claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Include examples like keyboarding or tool use difficulty
- 02
Get imaging showing the joint lock
- 03
Clarify hand dominance and daily use impact
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind3 tips
- 01
Not clarifying if the ankylosis is favorable or unfavorable
- 02
Ignoring how it affects dominant hand use
- 03
Minimal documentation of functional impairment
Common filing mistakes3 tips
- 01
Assuming all finger stiffness qualifies
- 02
Lack of medical proof of fixed positioning
- 03
Not describing work or activity limitations
When symptoms may first appear3 tips
- 01
Post-injury fusion or severe arthritis
- 02
Tendon damage with surgical outcome
- 03
Occupational trauma over time
THE BROADER PICTURE
Ankylosis of the Index Finger by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Low to moderate – stronger claims with surgery or trauma records.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~6,700 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Ankylosis of the Index Finger
Is Ankylosis of the Index Finger a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Ankylosis of the Index Finger under VASRD diagnostic code 5225 (Musculoskeletal System). The index finger is fixed in one position and no longer bends. DC 5225 is a single 10 percent evaluation: the schedule does not separate favorable from unfavorable ankylosis for this digit, and it does not separate the dominant hand from the non-dominant one.
What VA disability rating can I get for Ankylosis of the Index Finger?
Possible VA ratings for Ankylosis of the Index Finger are 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 10%: Ankylosis of the index finger, unfavorable or favorable. DC 5225's single rating row is 10 percent, the same in the major and minor columns.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Ankylosis of the Index Finger?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Ankylosis of the Index Finger at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 6,700 veterans are service-connected for Ankylosis of the Index Finger. Estimated approval outlook: Low to moderate – stronger claims with surgery or trauma records.
What evidence helps prove Ankylosis of the Index Finger for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Ankylosis of the Index Finger claim includes: Doctor’s documentation of ankylosis and finger position; Functional tests showing loss of grip strength; Hand therapy notes or occupational impairment records.
Which DBQ is used for Ankylosis of the Index Finger?
VA's Hand and Finger Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Ankylosis of the Index Finger?
Common pitfalls when filing for Ankylosis of the Index Finger: Assuming all finger stiffness qualifies; Lack of medical proof of fixed positioning; Not describing work or activity limitations.
What conditions can be secondary to Ankylosis of the Index Finger?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Ankylosis of the Index Finger, when a medical opinion links them, include: Tendonitis; Carpal Tunnel; Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5225)
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.40, functional loss
- 38 CFR § 4.45, the joints
- 38 CFR § 4.59, painful motion
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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