Three digits of one hand, amputation of, index, long and little — VA Diagnostic Code 5139

38 CFR § 4.69 says handedness for the purpose of a dominant rating will be determined by the evidence of record, or by testing on VA examination. Only one hand shall be considered dominant. The injured hand, or the most severely injured hand, of an ambidextrous individual will be considered the dominant hand for rating purposes. Section 4.69 does not use the words “Major” and “Minor.” Those are the column headings.

DC 5127 is four digits including the thumb, 70 major and 60 minor, with footnote 1. DC 5138 keeps the index and long fingers and swaps the little finger for the ring finger. It prints the same 50 and 40. DC 5140 is index, ring and little, also 50 and 40. DC 5153 is the index finger alone. Its highest line is 30 major and 20 minor, with metacarpal resection.

Paragraphs (b), (c), (e), and (f) are the same multiple-finger notes that follow DC 5151. Middle-phalanx amputation follows unfavorable ankylosis. Distal amputation, other than negligible losses, follows favorable ankylosis. Combinations are rated on the representative grade. Loss of use of the hand is the paragraph (f) sentence, not a number printed on DC 5139.

38 CFR § 4.68 says the combined rating for disabilities of an extremity shall not exceed the rating for the amputation at the elective level, were amputation to be performed. For example, the combined evaluations for disabilities below the knee shall not exceed the 40 percent evaluation, diagnostic code 5165. This 40 percent rating may be further combined with evaluation for disabilities above the knee but not to exceed the above the knee amputation elective level. Painful neuroma of a stump after amputation shall be assigned the evaluation for the elective site of reamputation. The example names diagnostic code 5165. It does not name DC 5139. Paragraph (d) is the sentence that mentions the amputation rule applied to the forearm. 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.

The code prints no 0 percent line. 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. This page does not state a payment amount. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not name DC 5139. 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.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5139, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.