VA Diagnostic Code 5161Upper third, one-third of the distance from perineum to knee joint measured from perineum
A single 80% rating under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires for it.
Not the right code?
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 80%
Upper third, one-third of the distance from perineum to knee joint measured from perineum
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- 2 Also entitled to special monthly compensation.
Amputation of the Thigh — Upper Third (Diagnostic Code 5161)
Musculoskeletal System · Rated under 38 CFR § 4.71a
What This Rating Covers
Diagnostic Code 5161 addresses amputation of the thigh at the upper third — specifically, within one-third of the distance from the perineum to the knee joint, measured starting from the perineum. This is one of the diagnostic codes the VA uses to evaluate lower-extremity amputations under the musculoskeletal rating schedule.
Available Rating Level
Under this diagnostic code, the VA assigns the following rating:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 80% | Amputation of the thigh at the upper third — one-third of the distance from the perineum to the knee joint, measured from the perineum |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating a claim under this code, the VA focuses on the location of the amputation along the thigh. Specifically, it looks at whether the amputation falls within the upper third — that is, within one-third of the distance measured from the perineum toward the knee joint.
Additional Note
The VA schedule indicates that an amputation rated at this level may also entitle the veteran to special monthly compensation.
This overview is based on the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 5161 under 38 CFR § 4.71a. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome. Individual evaluations depend on the specific facts of each case.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5161. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
Find your level in the stack
Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.
Name the gap
Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 5161 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Musculoskeletal System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
Find out which rating your evidence supports.
Six reads your records against these exact criteria and tells you what the VA is still missing.
Start for freeAll 159 Musculoskeletal System codes →