Amputation of the index, ring, and little fingers on one hand.
Medical records documenting the anatomical loss of the index, ring, and little fingers are the core evidence for a rating under this code. Operative or surgical reports, pathology notes, and imaging can establish that the loss occurred and identify exactly which fingers and which hand are affected. Your dominant or nondominant hand status matters for the rating level, so records or statements that clearly identify which hand is your major and which is your minor are helpful.
If your condition involves ankylosis rather than outright amputation, examination findings that measure the gap between your fingertips and the proximal transverse crease of your palm — with fingers flexed as far as possible — help VA determine whether the ankylosis is favorable or unfavorable. Range-of-motion measurements for each affected joint, noting the degrees of flexion at the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and distal interphalangeal joints, support that determination. Statements from you or people who know you describing how the loss of these three fingers affects your ability to grip, handle objects, or perform work tasks can also reflect the functional impact of your condition.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
