Complete stiffness or immobility of the wrist joint in a fixed position.
Medical records that document how and where your wrist is fixed are central to establishing the rating level. A VA or private examination should record the exact position of the wrist in degrees, including whether there is palmar flexion, dorsiflexion, ulnar deviation, or radial deviation. That measured position is what separates one rating from another.
Imaging such as X-rays can confirm bony fusion and show the angle at which the wrist has fused. Surgical or treatment records showing the history of the joint are also useful context.
For the higher rating levels, records that show the wrist is fixed in palmar flexion or in a deviated position carry the most weight. If your wrist is fixed in dorsiflexion, records measuring the exact degree matter, since only 20 to 30 degrees of dorsiflexion qualifies as the favorable position.
Statements from you or people who know you describing how the fixed wrist position affects tasks at work or at home can help show the functional impact, particularly if the position makes gripping, lifting, or other hand use difficult.
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.
