38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.71a
Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot — VA Diagnostic Code 5108
Musculoskeletal
Diagnostic code
5108
38 CFR § 4.71a lists Diagnostic Code 5108 as “Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot”. The row does not end with a period. It sits under a centered line that reads “combinations of disabilities,” inside the table captioned “Prosthetic Implants and Resurfacing.” The Major cell is blank. The Minor cell is superscript 1 and 100. Footnote 1 says “Also entitled to special monthly compensation.” Appendix B to Part 4 uses the same words and adds a period.
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.71a source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969; 40 FR 42536, Sept. 15, 1975; 41 FR 11294, Mar. 18, 1976; 43 FR 45350, Oct. 2, 1978; 51 FR 6411, Feb. 24, 1986; 61 FR 20439, May 7, 1996; 67 FR 48785, July 26, 2002; 67 FR 54349, Aug. 22, 2002; 68 FR 51456, Aug. 27, 2003; 69 FR 32450, June 10, 2004; 80 FR 42041, July 16, 2015; 85 FR 76460, Nov. 30, 2020, 85 FR 85523, Dec. 29, 2020, 86 FR 8142, Feb. 4, 2021. The § 4.63 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 43 FR 45349, Oct. 2, 1978.
The rating criteria at each level
5108 Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot — combinations of disabilities
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot |
The table header splits Rating into Major and Minor. On the DC 5108 row the Major cell is blank. The number 100, with superscript 1, is in the Minor cell.
Footnote 1 reads: “Also entitled to special monthly compensation.” It does not name a level, it does not cite § 3.350, and it does not state a payment amount.
The same footnote and the same blank-Major, 100-Minor pattern are on DC 5104 through DC 5111. DC 5106 is “Anatomical loss of both hands.” DC 5107 is “Anatomical loss of both feet.” DC 5111 is “Loss of use of one hand and one foot.” Those are different titles. DC 5104 and DC 5105 mix anatomical loss of one extremity with loss of use of the other.
DC 5111 is loss of use of one hand and one foot, also 100 in the Minor cell, with the same footnote. The DC 5108 title says “Anatomical loss.” It does not say “loss of use.” DC 5106 and DC 5107 are anatomical loss of both hands and of both feet. DC 5109 and DC 5110 are loss of use of both hands and of both feet.
DC 5125 is “Hand, loss of use of,” at 70 major and 60 minor. Its footnote says “Entitled to special monthly compensation.” It does not say “Also.” DC 5167 is “Foot, loss of use of,” at 40, with superscript 2. That lower-extremity footnote also reads “Also entitled to special monthly compensation.” The superscript on DC 5108 is 1, and the number is 100. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just. 38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. DC 5108 does not print a 0 percent line.
38 CFR § 4.63 defines loss of use of a hand or a foot, for special monthly compensation. The DC 5108 title is anatomical loss, not loss of use. Section 4.63 does not assign the DC 5108 percentage.
The next table caption is “Table II—Ratings for Multiple Losses of Extremities With Dictator's Rating Code and 38 CFR Citation.” That caption prints “Dictator's.” The table cites § 3.350. It does not print the number 5108. The footnote on DC 5108 does not cite § 3.350.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “anatomical loss.” DC 5108 is a rating-schedule line.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5108, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
100 in the Minor cell
After the centered “combinations of disabilities” line, the Major cell is empty and the Minor cell is 100 with superscript 1.
Anatomical loss, not loss of use
DC 5111 uses “Loss of use” for one hand and one foot. DC 5108 uses “Anatomical loss” for one hand and one foot. Both print 100.
The index adds a period
The rating row does not end with a period. Appendix B says “Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
100
What the rater needs to see. Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot, which is the DC 5108 title.
Where that usually lives. The amputation record for each named part.
Footnote 1
What the rater needs to see. The footnote says also entitled to special monthly compensation. It does not name a level.
Where that usually lives. The same decision. This page does not state a payment amount.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Amputations” under Musculoskeletal. The file is Amputations.
The exam form
DC 5108 prints 100 in the Minor cell, with footnote 1. This page does not say the form replaces that row.
Related codes and how they interact
One of each, by amputation rather than by loss of use.
DC 5111 is the loss-of-use title for one hand and one foot. DC 5106 and DC 5107 are both hands and both feet. DC 5125 is one hand, at 70 major and 60 minor.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “anatomical loss.” DC 5108 is a rating-schedule line. The footnote does not cite § 3.350.
A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.
Short answers
What is the VA rating for anatomical loss of one hand and one foot?
Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5108 is 100 percent in the Minor cell, with a footnote that says “Also entitled to special monthly compensation.” The Major cell is blank. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
What does the combinations footnote cite?
It says “Also entitled to special monthly compensation.” It does not name § 3.350 and it does not name a level. Table II cites § 3.350 and does not print the number 5108.
FAQ
What number does DC 5108 print?
100, in the Minor cell, with superscript 1. The Major cell is blank. Footnote 1 says “Also entitled to special monthly compensation.” The footnote does not name a level or a dollar amount. Education only.
Is loss of use of one hand and one foot the same title?
No. That title is DC 5111. It prints the same 100 and the same footnote. DC 5108 says “Anatomical loss.”
Does the row end with a period?
The rating-table row does not. Appendix B adds a period.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 5108, which cell was used, and any special-monthly-compensation footnote.
- The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
- Other musculoskeletal codes are on the musculoskeletal diagnostic-code index. The category page is musculoskeletal conditions.
Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.
Other codes in this body system
Nearby catalog entries in Musculoskeletal, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Musculoskeletal codes
- DC 5025Fibromyalgia
- DC 5054Hip replacement (prosthetic joint)
- DC 5055Knee replacement (prosthetic joint)
- DC 5106Anatomical loss of both hands
- DC 5107Anatomical loss of both feet
- DC 5109Loss of use of both hands
- DC 5110Loss of use of both feet
- DC 5111Loss of use of one hand and one foot
- DC 5120Complete amputation, upper extremity
- DC 5121Arm amputation, above insertion of deltoid
- DC 5122Arm amputation, below insertion of deltoid
- DC 5123Forearm amputation, above insertion of pronator teres
- DC 5124Forearm amputation, below insertion of pronator teres
- DC 5125Hand, loss of use of
- DC 5126Five digits of one hand, amputation
- DC 5127Four digits of one hand, amputation of the thumb, index, long and ring
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 5108 • va.gov
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.