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Rating Schedule for the Hip and Thigh

IMPORTANT NOTE:

  • For the purposes of Range of Motion (ROM), the examiner/rater are REQUIRED to consider flair ups in your conditions. Meaning, if you do not happen to have an Examination on your worst day, the examiner is required to reasonably estimate your impairment on your worst day! The rater is required to use this estimate, unless your ROM is somehow noted as being worse during ROM testing during the exam. In any event, the rater is to use the most impaired ROM measurements noted by the examiner!

Amputation Rule

Veterans CANNOT have a total Combined rating for places in the body higher than a Veteran who had those areas amputated. IE A veteran who has various disabilities in their knee, ankle, and foot, Those ratings cannot combine to be more than a Veteran who had their leg amputated just above the knee.

5160, 5161, 5162 Amputation

Veteran is entitled to Special Monthly Compensation.

Rating
 Degree of Amputation
60% Just above the knee.
80% Middle of the thigh.
90% Hip and below.
100% Trans-pelvic amputation.

5250 Lose of Use (Ankylosis)

When the Hip joint cannot be moved at all.

  • Abduction: Ability to move your leg sideways.

  • Adduction: Ability to cross your legs.

  • Flexion: Lifting the leg forward.

NOTE:

Rating
 Description
60% Flexion at an angle between 20° and 40°, and slight adduction or abduction.
70% Intermediate.
90% When a foot cannot reach the ground, requiring the use of crutches*.

5054 Hip Replacement (Prosthesis) or Resurfacing

NOTES:

Rating
 Description
30% Minimum Rating*.
50% Moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain or limitation of motion.
70% Markedly severe residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion following implantation of prosthesis.
90% Painful motion or weakness such as to require the use of crutches**.
100% For four months following the replacement/resurfacing.

Ratings Based Off Limitations of Range of Motion (ROM)

PYRAMIDING NOTE:

  • Veterans CAN receive separate individual ratings for their limitations in:

    • Abduction/adduction/thigh rotation;

    • Extension; AND

    • Flexion.

5253 Abduction/Adduction/Thigh rotation (Thigh Impairment)

  • Abduction: Ability to move your leg sideways.

  • Adduction: Ability to cross your legs.

  • Thigh rotation: Ability to rotate your leg so your toes point to the side.

Rating
 Description
10% Limitation of adduction of, cannot cross legs.
10% Limitation of rotation of, cannot toe-out more than 15°, affected leg.
20% Limitation of abduction of, motion lost beyond 10°.

5251 Extension

Ability to move your leg backward.

Rating
 Limited to
10% 5°.

5252 Flexion

Ability to move your leg forward.

Rating
 Limited to
10% 45°.
20% 30°.
30% 20°.
40% 10°.

5254 Too Much Motion or Dislocation (Flail Joint)

When the hip is unstable and has far to much range of motion. Having a hip that can easily be dislocated also qualifies.

Rating
 Description
80% See above.

5255 Thigh (Femur) Bone

Longest bone in the body.

NOTE:

  • For Veterans who's femur bone healed improperly. It will be rated in how it affects the hip or Knee; Whichever rating is higher

Rating
 Description
60% Fracture of surgical neck of, with false joint
60% Bone will not heal, without loose motion, and leg can bear weight with aid of brace.
80% Bone will not heal, with loose motion (spiral or oblique fracture).

5275 Shortening of the Leg

When the Veteran has their leg shortened as a result of trauma or a service-connected surgery.

PYRAMIDING NOTE:

  • CANNOT be given with other ratings for fracture or faulty union in the same leg; Veterans will be given the higher rating.

NOTES:

  • Measured from anterior superior spine of the ilium to the internal malleolus of the tibia.

  • *Entitles the Veteran to Special Monthly Compensation.

Rating
 Shortening of
10% 1.25 to 2 inches.
20% 2 to 2.5 inches.
30% 2.5 to 3 inches.
40% 3 to 3.5 inches.
50% 3.5 to 4 inches*.
60% Over 4 inches*.

Miscellaneous Ratings

The Veteran will NOT receive an additional rating if they fit the criteria of any of these miscellaneous cases. The Veteran will get a single rating for the ROM or Miscellaneous rating; Whichever rating is higher!

Pain with Motion

PYRAMIDING NOTE:

  • When there is an award based on pain with motion with movement of the hip. The VA will only award a SINGLE rating under range of motion! No matter how many ranges of motion are impacted!

Rating
 Description
10%
 Pain with motion.

Arthritis

When a Veteran's arthritis does not warrant a rating based upon ROM or other miscellaneous situations. The Veteran's condition will be rated under degenerative arthritis.

For an explanation of arthritis ratings click HERE.

Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQs)

To get an idea of how a C&P exam will be conducted it is recommended that the Veteran look at the applicable DBQ.

Veteran's may ask a physician to complete a DBQ on their behalf to submit with their claim. For more information on DBQs click HERE.

Having Trouble Finding Your Condition?

  • Click HERE to view the Master Condition List.

References