Musculoskeletal System§ 4.71aUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5163With defective stump, thigh amputation recommended

A single 60% rating under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires for it.

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  1. 60%

    With defective stump, thigh amputation recommended

From the schedule

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.

Defective Stump, Thigh Amputation Recommended (Diagnostic Code 5163)

Understanding This Rating

Diagnostic Code 5163 falls under the Musculoskeletal System and is defined in the federal rating regulations at § 4.71a. It addresses a condition described as: "With defective stump, thigh amputation recommended."

This entry applies to a lower-limb amputation stump that is defective to the point that a thigh amputation is recommended.

Available Rating Level

Under this diagnostic code, there is a single rating level:

RatingWhat It Reflects
60%With defective stump, thigh amputation recommended

What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a claim under Diagnostic Code 5163, the VA considers whether the medical evidence supports the described condition: a defective stump for which thigh amputation is recommended.

Additional Note

  • A veteran rated under this code is also entitled to special monthly compensation.

This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule at § 4.71a. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5163. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 5163 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.

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