Limited Motion of the Hip (Thigh)
Hip disabilities are rated on how far the thigh moves in each direction. Flexion (raising the knee toward the chest) is the main measure, rated 10 to 40 percent, and other planes of motion can add separate ratings.
How the VA rates it
DC 5252 rates limitation of thigh flexion (normal is about 125 degrees) from 10 percent at 45 degrees down to 40 percent at 10 degrees. Separate compensable ratings are possible for other planes under 5251 (extension) and 5253 (abduction, adduction, rotation), because each code compensates a different motion. Painful hip motion with arthritis or healed injury generally warrants at least 10 percent under 38 CFR 4.59 even when measurements are noncompensable.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 40%Flexion limited to 10 degrees.
Flexion limited to 20 degrees.
Flexion limited to 30 degrees.
Flexion limited to 45 degrees.
What those terms mean
- flexion
- — Bending the joint (e.g., bending your knee or leaning forward).
- extension
- — Straightening the joint out.
Secondary condition strategy
Commonly claimed secondary to this
Conditions veterans often develop from this one — each can be its own rating under 38 CFR 3.310.
- Lumbosacral Strain — Hip dysfunction shifts load to the lumbar spine and commonly aggravates low back conditions.
- Limitation of Knee Flexion — An altered stride from a stiff or painful hip overloads the knees, on the same or opposite side.
- Major Depressive Disorder — Chronic hip pain limiting walking, sitting, and sleep commonly supports secondary depression.
This is often secondary to
If you already have one of these service-connected, it may support connecting this condition.
- Lumbosacral Strain — Chronic low back conditions and the antalgic gait they cause can aggravate the hips.
- Knee Instability — Compensating for an unstable knee alters hip mechanics over time.
- Flat Feet (Pes Planus) — Poor foot mechanics transmit abnormal forces up the kinetic chain to the hips.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- Ask the examiner to measure and record every plane: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation; 5251, 5252, and 5253 can produce multiple separate ratings for one hip.
- Specifically test whether you can cross your legs and toe-out past 15 degrees; those exact functional tests drive the 5253 ratings.
- Report pain onset within the arc of motion and flare-up losses; 4.59 and functional-loss rules can raise a noncompensable measurement to 10 percent.
- X-rays showing hip arthritis plus painful motion support the minimum compensable rating even with good measured motion.
Rating rules to know
Separate ratings under 5251, 5252, and 5253 for the same hip are permissible because each rates a different plane of motion, but the same functional loss cannot be counted twice. The bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26) applies when both hips (or a hip and any other leg disability on the other side) are compensably rated.
Related diagnostic codes
More musculoskeletal conditions
Lumbosacral Strain (Low Back Strain)
Chronic strain of the low back muscles and ligaments, one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities. VA rates it on how far you can bend and move your low back, not on how much it hurts.
Rated up to 100%
Limitation of Knee Flexion
The most commonly rated knee disability: how far you can bend the knee. Ratings run 0 to 30 percent based on measured flexion, with a 10 percent floor for a painful knee under the painful-motion rule.
Rated up to 30%
Degenerative Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Wear-and-tear arthritis confirmed by X-ray. VA rates it through the motion limits of each affected joint, with a 10 percent floor for a painful arthritic joint even when motion is nearly normal.
Rated up to 20%
Cervical Strain (Neck Strain)
Chronic strain of the neck muscles and ligaments. VA rates it on how far you can move your neck under the same spine formula used for the low back, with neck-specific degree thresholds.
Rated up to 100%
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Wear-and-tear breakdown of the spinal discs and joints, in the low back or neck. VA rates it on measured spinal motion under the same formula used for back and neck strain.
Rated up to 100%
Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of the tissue band supporting the arch, causing heel and arch pain. VA gave it its own diagnostic code in 2021, rated 10 to 30 percent based mainly on whether treatment provides relief.
Rated up to 40%
Disclaimer: Valor Rating is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Always review your documents carefully before submitting to the VA. For official guidance, consult an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.