Diagnostic Code 5253: Hip. Impairment of Thigh (Rotation/Adduction) Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Rating range
- 10% to 20%
- Rating levels
- 3
- Body system
- Musculoskeletal system
The VA rates Hip. Impairment of Thigh (Rotation/Adduction) under diagnostic code 5253 in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 5253 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Limitation of rotation of, cannot toe-out more than 15 degrees, affected leg What raters look forcannot toe-out more than 15 degrees |
| 10% | Limitation of adduction of, cannot cross legs What raters look forcannot cross legs |
| 20% | Limitation of abduction of, motion lost beyond 10 degrees What raters look forabduction motion lost beyond 10 degrees |
DC 5253 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 2,129 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 5253 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 18.4%, denied 66.7% and sent 14.9% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | 248 | 43.5% |
| 20 percent | 146 | 49.3% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 5253 rulings
Percentages use all 318 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate79.9%
- No exam problem recorded11.9%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened6.9%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 5253 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Hip Condition. The Hip Condition condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Hip Condition appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 32,908 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Hip Condition, 2021 to 2026. The Hip Condition condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Hip Condition appeals generally rather than DC 5253 specifically. The DC 5253 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 5253?
Diagnostic code 5253 is the VA rating schedule entry for Hip. Impairment of Thigh (Rotation/Adduction), found in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 5253?
DC 5253 provides ratings of 10%, 10%, 20%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 5253 require?
The 20% rating for Hip. Impairment of Thigh (Rotation/Adduction) requires: Limitation of abduction of, motion lost beyond 10 degrees.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 5253?
In 2,087 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 5253 from 2021 to 2026, 17.1% were granted, 67.8% denied and 15.2% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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