YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third under diagnostic code 5162, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides a single evaluation under it: 60%.
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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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third
This is an amputation of the thigh through its middle or lower third — below the upper third of the femur and above the knee. The schedule states a single evaluation covering that whole range, so how well a prosthesis fits does not move the percentage.
Requires surgical or clinical records showing the amputation falls in the middle or lower third of the thigh rather than the upper third, which the schedule rates separately and higher. DC 5162 states one evaluation for the middle-or-lower-third range, with no gradation for prosthetic function.
- Diagnostic code
- 5162
- 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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third VA rating criteria (DC 5162)
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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third 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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third?
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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third 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
Submit photos or diagrams from the surgery showing the amputation level and stump condition, since these help establish exactly what this rating applies to.
- 02
List mobility limitations clearly, and consider adding a mental health evaluation for any adjustment difficulties, since psychological impact is a well-recognized secondary consequence of amputation.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Not documenting the level of the amputation, which is what separates this code from the upper-third code.
- 02
Lack of evidence for secondary pain or instability in the residual limb.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Missing prosthetic evaluation records that would establish how well the limb is actually functioning.
- 02
Not clearly linking the amputation to a service-connected injury or condition.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Thigh amputation can result suddenly from a traumatic injury, or develop gradually as a necessary treatment for progressive disease.
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.”
THE BROADER PICTURE
Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High – clear-cut limb loss cases are well-supported.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~2,300 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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third
Is Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third under VASRD diagnostic code 5162 (Musculoskeletal System). This is an amputation of the thigh through its middle or lower third — below the upper third of the femur and above the knee. The schedule states a single evaluation covering that whole range, so how well a prosthesis fits does not move the percentage.
What VA disability rating can I get for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third?
Possible VA ratings for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third are 60%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 60%: Middle or lower thirds.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third at around 60%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 2,300 veterans are service-connected for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third. Estimated approval outlook: High – clear-cut limb loss cases are well-supported.
What evidence helps prove Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third claim includes: Amputation surgery records documenting the level and circumstances of the amputation; A VA prosthetic assessment report evaluating how well the prosthetic fits and functions; Physical therapy evaluations tracking mobility and adaptation.
Which DBQ is used for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third?
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 Thigh at Middle or Lower Third?
Common pitfalls when filing for Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third: Missing prosthetic evaluation records that would establish how well the limb is actually functioning; Not clearly linking the amputation to a service-connected injury or condition.
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."
What conditions can be secondary to Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third, when a medical opinion links them, include: Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5162)
- 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.
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