38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.71a

Ring or little finger, limitation of motion — VA Diagnostic Code 5230

Musculoskeletal

Diagnostic code

5230

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38 CFR § 4.71a lists Diagnostic Code 5230 under “IV. Limitation of Motion of Individual Digits.” The title row is “Ring or little finger, limitation of motion:”. The rating cells on that title are empty. The next row is “Any limitation of motion,” 0 in the Major column and 0 in the Minor column. The row does not end with a period. Appendix B indexes “Ring or little finger.” under “Limitation of Motion of Individual Digits:”. That index line does not say “limitation of motion.”

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 § 4.69 source note prints 62 FR 30239, June 3, 1997. The 2026-10-01 XML for § 4.68 prints no source note. 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

5230 Ring or little finger, limitation of motion — Major and Minor columns

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Ring or little finger, limitation of motion:

Rating %: 0 major, 0 minor

Criteria (verbatim). Any limitation of motion

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Ring or little finger, limitation of motion:
0 major, 0 minor	Any limitation of motion

The 0 is printed on the row. This code is not a code that omits a zero percent evaluation. Section 4.31 is the rule for a diagnostic code that does not provide a zero percent evaluation.

DC 5229, index or long finger, limitation of motion, prints a 10 line and a 0 line. The 10 line is a gap of one inch (2.5 cm.) or more between the fingertip and the proximal transverse crease of the palm, with the finger flexed to the extent possible, or extension limited by more than 30 degrees. DC 5230 does not print that 10 line. It prints “Any limitation of motion” at 0 and 0.

DC 5227 is ankylosis of the ring or little finger, unfavorable or favorable, also 0 and 0. That is a different code. Its Note is the individual-digit amputation note. DC 5230 does not print that Note.

The block heading is “Evaluation of Ankylosis or Limitation of Motion of Single or Multiple Digits of the Hand.” Paragraph (2) applies when two or more digits of the same hand are affected by any combination of amputation, ankylosis, or limitation of motion that is not otherwise specified in the rating schedule. DC 5230 specifies the evaluation for limitation of motion of the ring or little finger.

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 5229 is the index or long finger. It has a compensable 10 line. DC 5227 is ankylosis of the ring or little finger, at 0 and 0, with the Note that begins “Also consider whether evaluation as amputation is warranted.” DC 5225 is index-finger ankylosis, at 10 and 10. DC 5230 is limitation of motion, and the printed evaluation is 0.

Paragraph (1) defines zero degrees of flexion and the position of function for digits II through V, and it says only joints in those positions are considered to be in favorable position. That paragraph is in the same evaluation block. It does not change the DC 5230 number. The number on “Any limitation of motion” is 0 in both columns.

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. Section 4.7 compares the disability picture with the criteria required for a rating. The criteria row this code prints for the limitation is 0. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “little finger.” 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 5230, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The zero is on the row

“Any limitation of motion” is 0 major and 0 minor. The schedule did not leave this code without a zero percent evaluation.

Index and long finger limitation is a different code

DC 5229 prints 10 for a gap of one inch (2.5 cm.) or more, or for extension limited by more than 30 degrees. DC 5230 does not print that line.

Ankylosis of these fingers is DC 5227

That code is also 0 and 0, and it carries the amputation Note. DC 5230 is the limitation-of-motion title. It does not print that Note.

Evidence that speaks to each level

0 major, 0 minor

What the rater needs to see. Limitation of motion of the ring finger or the little finger. The row says any limitation of motion.

Where that usually lives. The finger examination that identifies which finger and that the finding is limitation of motion.

A different code, when the finding is not this row

What the rater needs to see. Ankylosis of the ring or little finger is DC 5227. Limitation of the index or long finger is DC 5229, which has a 10 line. Amputation is the amputation table.

Where that usually lives. The same examination. DC 5230 does not print a 10.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
0 major, 0 minor	Limitation of motion of the ring finger or the little finger. The row says any limitation of motion.	The finger examination that identifies which finger and that the finding is limitation of motion.
A different code, when the finding is not this row	Ankylosis of the ring or little finger is DC 5227. Limitation of the index or long finger is DC 5229, which has a 10 line. Amputation is the amputation table.	The same examination. DC 5230 does not print a 10.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Hand and Finger” under Musculoskeletal. The file is Hand and Finger.

The exam form

DC 5230 prints 0 for any limitation of motion of the ring or little finger. This page does not say the form replaces that row.

Related codes and how they interact

The neighboring limitation code has a 10.

DC 5229 is index or long finger limitation of motion. One line is 10 and 10. DC 5230 is ring or little finger, and the line is 0 and 0.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “little finger.” DC 5230 is a rating-schedule line.

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

How does VA rate limitation of motion of the ring or little finger?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5230 rates any limitation of motion at 0 percent major and 0 percent minor. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Why can the index finger have a 10 for limitation of motion?

That 10 is on DC 5229, index or long finger, for the gap or the extension limit that line describes. DC 5230 does not print a 10 line.

FAQ

What rating does limitation of motion of the ring or little finger print?

0 in the Major column and 0 in the Minor column, for any limitation of motion. Education only.

Does section 4.31 create that zero?

The zero is printed on the DC 5230 row. Section 4.31 applies where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation. This row provides one.

Is ankylosis of the same fingers a higher number?

DC 5227 prints unfavorable or favorable ankylosis of the ring or little finger at 0 and 0. It is a different code, and it carries a Note that DC 5230 does not print.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 5230 and whether the finger named is the ring finger or the little finger.
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

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 5230 • 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.