38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.71a
Loss of use of one hand and one foot — VA Diagnostic Code 5111
Musculoskeletal
Diagnostic code
5111
38 CFR § 4.71a lists Diagnostic Code 5111 as “Loss of use 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
5111 Loss of use of one hand and one foot — combinations of disabilities
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Loss of use of one hand and one foot
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Loss of use of one hand and one foot |
The table header splits Rating into Major and Minor. On the DC 5111 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 5108 is “Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot.” DC 5109 is “Loss of use of both hands.” DC 5110 is “Loss of use of both feet.” Those are different titles.
38 CFR § 4.63 defines loss of use of a hand or a foot, for the purpose of special monthly compensation. It uses the singular. The comparison for the hand is grasping, manipulation, and so on. The comparison for the foot is balance, propulsion, and so on. Both comparisons are against an amputation stump at the site of election below elbow or knee with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. Paragraph (b) names complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal) and consequent, footdrop, with the organic changes that paragraph lists, as loss of use of the foot. Section 4.63 does not assign the DC 5111 percentage. The DC 5111 title is one hand and one foot.
DC 5108 is anatomical loss of one hand and one foot, the same 100 and the same footnote, without the words “loss of use.” DC 5125 is loss of use of the hand, at 70 major and 60 minor, and its footnote does not say “Also.” DC 5167 is loss of use of the foot, at 40. DC 5244 rates paraplegia under diagnostic code 5110 and quadriplegia under diagnostic codes 5109 and 5110. It does not name DC 5111. 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 5111 does not print a 0 percent line.
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 5111. The footnote on DC 5111 does not cite § 3.350. 38 CFR § 4.25 is the section DC 5244 names for combining 5109 and 5110. That sentence is not a DC 5111 percentage.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “loss of use.” DC 5111 is a rating-schedule line.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5111, 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.
One of each, not both of one
DC 5109 is both hands. DC 5110 is both feet. DC 5111 is one hand and one foot. DC 5108 is anatomical loss of that same pair.
Singular in § 4.63
Section 4.63 speaks of a hand or a foot. The DC 5111 title names one of each. The percentage on the row is 100.
Evidence that speaks to each level
100
What the rater needs to see. Loss of use of one hand and one foot, which is the DC 5111 title.
Where that usually lives. The examination of remaining function. Section 4.63 is the special-monthly-compensation definition for a hand or a foot. It is not the DC 5111 percentage.
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 5111 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
Anatomical loss of the same pair is DC 5108.
DC 5108 prints the same 100. Its title does not say “loss of use.” DC 5244 names 5109 and 5110. It does not name 5111.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “loss of use.” DC 5111 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 loss of use of one hand and one foot?
Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5111 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.
Does complete paraplegia use this code?
DC 5244 says to rate paraplegia under diagnostic code 5110, and to rate quadriplegia separately under diagnostic codes 5109 and 5110. It does not name DC 5111.
FAQ
What number does DC 5111 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 this anatomical loss?
No. Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot is DC 5108. Loss of use of one hand is DC 5125, at 70 major and 60 minor. Loss of use of one foot is DC 5167, at 40.
What does § 4.63 compare?
For a hand, grasping and manipulation. For a foot, balance and propulsion. The comparison is whether that function could be accomplished equally well by an amputation stump with a suitable prosthesis. DC 5111’s percentage is the schedule line, and its title is one hand and one foot.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 5111, 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.
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 5108Anatomical loss of one hand and one foot
- DC 5109Loss of use of both hands
- DC 5110Loss of use of both feet
- 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 5111 • 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.