YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump under diagnostic code 5163, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides a single evaluation under it: 60%.
Free · No account needed
Save your Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump guide
Email yourself this Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump guide so the rating criteria, evidence checklist, and preparation tips are easy to find later.
A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump
This code covers a below-knee amputation whose residual limb (stump) is defective enough that re-amputation through the thigh is recommended. What the code turns on is that recommendation, not the amputation level by itself, so documentation of how the stump fails is the core evidence.
DC 5163 is stated as a leg amputation "with defective stump, thigh amputation recommended," and it carries a single evaluation. The record that matters is surgical or prosthetics documentation of the stump defect together with a clinical recommendation that the amputation be revised to a thigh level.
- Diagnostic code
- 5163
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 60%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
There is no higher or lower step inside this code: a rating decision either finds its criteria met or it does not. Where they are not met, 38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a 0% evaluation: service connection granted, at a level that does not pay.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump VA rating criteria (DC 5163)
This condition has one published rating level. Read the criteria, then explore the details and monthly pay.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim2 tips
- 01
Show specifically how the stump interferes with prosthetic use, since this functional failure, not just the amputation itself, is what this code rates.
- 02
Include all wound and rehabilitation notes, since they document the ongoing attempts to make the prosthetic work and why they haven't succeeded.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Not distinguishing between a partial and a total failure of prosthetic use.
- 02
Missing functional mobility assessments that would establish the real-world impact.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Omitting photos or wound care evaluations.
- 02
No statements describing the specific prosthetic usage problems.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
A defective stump typically results from a poor surgical outcome or an infection that complicated healing after the original amputation.
WHEN VA HOLDS THE LINK
Cardiovascular disease after a lower-extremity amputation
38 CFR 3.310(c): “Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations.”
One amputation at this level does not meet 38 CFR 3.310(c) by itself. The paragraph covers a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee, or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate to high – when stump complications are well documented.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~850 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~60%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump
Is Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump under VASRD diagnostic code 5163 (Musculoskeletal System). This code covers a below-knee amputation whose residual limb (stump) is defective enough that re-amputation through the thigh is recommended. What the code turns on is that recommendation, not the amputation level by itself, so documentation of how the stump fails is the core evidence.
What VA disability rating can I get for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump?
Possible VA ratings for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump are 60%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 60%: Leg, amputation of: with defective stump, thigh amputation recommended.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump at around 60%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 850 veterans are service-connected for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate to high – when stump complications are well documented.
What evidence helps prove Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump claim includes: VA prosthetics clinic notes documenting the stump's condition; Wound care or pain clinic reports; Photos or imaging of the stump.
Which DBQ is used for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump?
VA's Amputations Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump?
Common pitfalls when filing for Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump: Omitting photos or wound care evaluations; No statements describing the specific prosthetic usage problems.
When does VA hold cardiovascular disease to be the result of a service-connected lower-extremity amputation?
38 CFR 3.310(c): "Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations." One amputation at this level does not meet 38 CFR 3.310(c) by itself. The paragraph covers a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee, or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5163)
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR § 3.310(c), cardiovascular disease after a service-connected lower-extremity amputation
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline