Wrist limited motion

To support a rating under diagnostic code 5215, the most important evidence is a measurement of how far your wrist actually moves. A VA examination or a private physician's report that records the degrees of dorsiflexion and palmar flexion using a goniometer directly ties to the criteria. A reading showing dorsiflexion below 15 degrees supports the first basis for a 10% rating. An examiner's finding that palmar flexion is limited to in-line with the forearm supports the second.

Medical records documenting your wrist condition over time — such as imaging, treatment notes, and physical therapy records — help show that the limitation is consistent and connected to your service. Statements from you or people who know you, describing how the restricted motion affects tasks that require bending your wrist at work or in daily life, can add context to the clinical findings. The examiner's own range-of-motion measurements, taken on the day of the exam, are typically the most direct evidence VA uses to apply these specific criteria.