YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Hand, Loss of Use VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Hand, Loss of Use under diagnostic code 5125, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 70% and 60%.
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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 Hand, Loss of Use
This code covers loss of use of one hand - the point at which the hand keeps no effective function, whether the cause is a crush injury, nerve paralysis or anything else. It rates the dominant (major) hand at 70 percent and the non-dominant (minor) hand at 60. It is loss of function, not amputation: the amputation levels have their own codes.
DC 5125's single criterion row is "Hand, loss of use of", rated 70 percent in the major (dominant) column and 60 percent in the minor (non-dominant) column. The threshold the term carries is the note closing the multiple finger amputations table at 38 CFR 4.71a (DC 5151, note (f)): "Loss of use of the hand will be held to exist when no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump with a suitable prosthetic appliance." Grip testing, dexterity testing and occupational-therapy assessments matter because they establish whether any effective function remains - no particular grip score sets a tier. Once the threshold is met, only hand dominance moves the evaluation.
- Diagnostic code
- 5125
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 70% and 60%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Hand, Loss of Use VA rating criteria (DC 5125)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Hand, Loss of Use 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 Hand, Loss of Use?
VA publishes its questionnaires by body system; find the one for this condition on VA's list.
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Hand, Loss of Use 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 claim2 tips
- 01
Describe the tasks the hand can no longer do at all, since the question is whether any effective function remains rather than how much strength was lost.
- 02
Document how completely you rely on the other hand and on adaptive equipment; that is direct evidence on the remaining-function question.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Documenting weakness, reduced grip or clumsiness rather than the schedule's threshold - that no effective function remains beyond what an amputation stump with a suitable prosthesis would provide.
- 02
Claiming the 70 percent column without documentation establishing which hand is dominant.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Submitting the claim without documented task limitations.
- 02
Not distinguishing which hand (dominant or non-dominant) is affected.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This condition typically follows a major crush injury, amputation, or nerve paralysis affecting the hand.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Hand, Loss of Use by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High if fully documented.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~500 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~70%
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 Hand, Loss of Use
Is Hand, Loss of Use a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Hand, Loss of Use under VASRD diagnostic code 5125 (Musculoskeletal System). This code covers loss of use of one hand - the point at which the hand keeps no effective function, whether the cause is a crush injury, nerve paralysis or anything else. It rates the dominant (major) hand at 70 percent and the non-dominant (minor) hand at 60. It is loss of function, not amputation: the amputation levels have their own codes.
What VA disability rating can I get for Hand, Loss of Use?
Possible VA ratings for Hand, Loss of Use are 70%, 60%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 70%: Hand, loss of use of - dominant (major) upper extremity; 60%: Hand, loss of use of - non-dominant (minor) upper extremity.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Hand, Loss of Use?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Hand, Loss of Use at around 70%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 500 veterans are service-connected for Hand, Loss of Use. Estimated approval outlook: High if fully documented.
What evidence helps prove Hand, Loss of Use for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Hand, Loss of Use claim includes: Occupational therapy reports assessing hand function; Strength testing and daily task logs.
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Hand, Loss of Use?
Common pitfalls when filing for Hand, Loss of Use: Submitting the claim without documented task limitations; Not distinguishing which hand (dominant or non-dominant) is affected.
What conditions can be secondary to Hand, Loss of Use?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Hand, Loss of Use, when a medical opinion links them, include: 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 5125)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
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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