Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5125
Hand, Loss of Use Secondary to Ankylosis of the Wrist
A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Hand, Loss of Use when it develops after Ankylosis of the Wrist.
Why Hand, Loss of Use Is Linked to Ankylosis of the Wrist
Reduced wrist flexibility affects hand strength
Primary condition · VASRD 5214
Ankylosis of the Wrist
Ankylosis of the wrist is a wrist fixed in one position that no longer moves. DC 5214 rates it by the position the wrist is fused in and by which hand it is - the schedule prints a major (dominant) and a minor (non-dominant) column, and the dominant wrist rates one step higher at every position. A wrist fixed in an extremely unfavorable position is not rated under this code at all: its note sends that case to DC 5125, loss of use of the hand.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5125
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.
Hand, Loss of Use VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Hand, Loss of Use the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Ankylosis of the Wrist — severity of Hand, Loss of Use itself determines the percentage.
Example combined rating
40% Ankylosis of the Wrist + 70% Hand, Loss of Use = 82%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 40% and 70% combine to 82%, not 110%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
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Evidence for a Hand, Loss of Use Secondary Claim
- •Occupational therapy reports assessing hand function.
- •Strength testing and daily task logs.
Common questions about Hand, Loss of Use secondary to Ankylosis of the Wrist
- Can Hand, Loss of Use be service-connected as secondary to Ankylosis of the Wrist?
- Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Reduced wrist flexibility affects hand strength You'll need a current Hand, Loss of Use diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected…
- What VA rating can I get for Hand, Loss of Use as a secondary condition?
- Hand, Loss of Use is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5125 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 70%, 60%. The rating depends on the severity of Hand, Loss of Use itself, not on the severity of Ankylosis of the Wrist.
- How does a secondary Hand, Loss of Use claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 40% rating for Ankylosis of the Wrist combined with a 70% rating for Hand, Loss of Use (example figures) produces a combined rating of 82%, not 110%. Approving Hand, Loss of Use as secondary still typically raises your ov…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Hand, Loss of Use as secondary to Ankylosis of the Wrist?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Hand, Loss of Use diagnosis includes: Occupational therapy reports assessing hand function.; Strength testing and daily task logs.. For the secondary link itself, a nexus letter from a treating provider explaining how Ankylosis of the Wrist caused or aggravated Hand, Loss of Use is t…
Primary condition
Full Ankylosis of the Wrist guide
Secondary condition
Full Hand, Loss of Use guide
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