YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) under diagnostic code 5160, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 100% and 90%.
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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 Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)
Complete amputation of the leg at the hip. The schedule sets two levels: disarticulation, which removes the femur and the intrinsic pelvic musculature only, and trans-pelvic amputation, which also takes some portion of the pelvic bones.
Requires operative records identifying which level was performed: trans-pelvic amputation (complete removal of the femur and intrinsic pelvic musculature along with any portion of the pelvic bones) is evaluated at the higher level, and disarticulation (complete removal of the femur and intrinsic pelvic musculature only) at the lower one. DC 5160 also carries a note directing that residuals involving other body systems — for example bowel impairment or bladder impairment — be separately evaluated under the appropriate diagnostic code.
- Diagnostic code
- 5160
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 100% and 90%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) VA rating criteria (DC 5160)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: Separately evaluate residuals involving other body systems ( e.g., bowel impairment, bladder impairment) under the appropriate diagnostic code.”DC 5160
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) 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 Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)?
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 Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) 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 claim3 tips
- 01
Submit images and wheelchair usage notes
- 02
Get statements from caregivers or rehab staff
- 03
Include mental health assessment for quality-of-life impact
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Underreporting dependence on wheelchair or assistive devices
- 02
Failing to show ongoing medical need from amputation
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Not providing complete surgical or post-op rehab records
- 02
Not documenting current limitations like wheelchair dependence
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
Usually results from battlefield trauma or advanced cancer/infection
- 02
Mobility loss often requires lifelong accommodations
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
Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Very High – severity of amputation leads to highly visible and indisputable claim.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~500 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~90%
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 Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)
Is Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) under VASRD diagnostic code 5160 (Musculoskeletal System). Complete amputation of the leg at the hip. The schedule sets two levels: disarticulation, which removes the femur and the intrinsic pelvic musculature only, and trans-pelvic amputation, which also takes some portion of the pelvic bones.
What VA disability rating can I get for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)?
Possible VA ratings for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) are 100%, 90%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 100%: Complete amputation, lower extremity: trans-pelvic amputation (involving complete removal of the femur and intrinsic pelvic musculature along with any portion of the pelvic bones); 90%: Complete amputation, lower extremity: disarticulation (involving complete removal of the femur and intrinsic pelvic musculature only).
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) at around 90%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 500 veterans are service-connected for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic). Estimated approval outlook: Very High – severity of amputation leads to highly visible and indisputable claim.
What evidence helps prove Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic) claim includes: Surgical report of hip disarticulation; Photos or medical imaging of the area; PT records showing inability to ambulate.
Which DBQ is used for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)?
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 Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic): Not providing complete surgical or post-op rehab records; Not documenting current limitations like wheelchair dependence.
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."
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5160)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 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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