YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Hip, Ankylosis of VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Hip, Ankylosis of under diagnostic code 5250, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides three evaluation levels for it: 90%, 70% and 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 Hip, Ankylosis of
Stiffness or immobility of the hip joint due to abnormal fusion of the bones.
The rating turns on the angle and favorability of the hip's fixed position. The schedule provides three evaluations: 60 percent for a favorable fusion in flexion between 20° and 40° with slight adduction or abduction, 90 percent for an extremely unfavorable fusion in which the foot does not reach the ground and crutches are necessitated, and 70 percent for an intermediate position between those two. X-rays or CT confirming the fusion and its angle, plus an exam documenting the fixed position, are what place a case on that scale.
- Diagnostic code
- 5250
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 90%, 70% and 60%
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
Hip, Ankylosis of VA rating criteria (DC 5250)
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.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Hip, Ankylosis of 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 Hip, Ankylosis of?
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.
THE EVERYDAY PICTURE
What the Hip, Ankylosis of examination has to record
The criteria above are read off an examination, and three sections of Part 4 govern what that examination has to contain. None of them is a diagnostic code, so none of them appears in the 5250 table, and all three apply to it. 38 CFR § 4.40: “Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled.”
38 CFR § 4.45 lists what an examination of a joint is directed to consider:
- Less movement than normal (due to ankylosis, limitation or blocking, adhesions, tendon-tie-up, contracted scars, etc.).
- More movement than normal (from flail joint, resections, nonunion of fracture, relaxation of ligaments, etc.).
- Weakened movement (due to muscle injury, disease or injury of peripheral nerves, divided or lengthened tendons, etc.).
- Excess fatigability.
- Incoordination, impaired ability to execute skilled movements smoothly.
- Pain on movement, swelling, deformity or atrophy of disuse.
38 CFR § 4.59: “It is the intention to recognize actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint.” So a joint that is painful on use is not a finding of nothing, even where the measured motion is close to normal.
The same section says how the joint is to be tested: “The joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint.” An examination that records one measurement, taken once, sitting down, has not done what the section asks, and that is worth reading the exam report for.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Hip, Ankylosis of 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
Include X-rays or CT scans clearly showing the fusion angle, since the specific degree and favorability of the position is what determines the rating tier.
- 02
Explain the effect on walking and sitting in detail, since this functional context helps connect the imaging findings to real-world severity.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Not specifying the type or angle of ankylosis, which is central to determining which rating tier applies.
- 02
Being mistaken for arthritis with limited motion rather than clearly documented true ankylosis (complete fusion).
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
No imaging included, leaving the claim without confirmation of the fusion and its angle.
- 02
Lack of clear range-of-motion data to establish the current state of the joint.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Hip ankylosis typically results from a severe injury, advanced arthritis, or infection that led to the joint fusing in place, either naturally or surgically.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Hip, Ankylosis of by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate with imaging support.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~6,200 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 Hip, Ankylosis of
Is Hip, Ankylosis of a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Hip, Ankylosis of under VASRD diagnostic code 5250 (Musculoskeletal System). Stiffness or immobility of the hip joint due to abnormal fusion of the bones.
What VA disability rating can I get for Hip, Ankylosis of?
Possible VA ratings for Hip, Ankylosis of are 90%, 70%, 60%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 90%: Unfavorable, extremely unfavorable ankylosis, the foot not reaching ground, crutches necessitated; 70%: Intermediate — the hip is ankylosed between the favorable position described at 60 percent and the extremely unfavorable position described at 90 percent; 60%: Favorable ankylosis, in flexion at an angle between 20° and 40°, and slight adduction or abduction.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Hip, Ankylosis of?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Hip, Ankylosis of at around 60%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 6,200 veterans are service-connected for Hip, Ankylosis of. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate with imaging support.
What evidence helps prove Hip, Ankylosis of for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Hip, Ankylosis of claim includes: A radiology report confirming the ankylosis and its specific angle; Orthopedic exam findings documenting the joint's fixed position and its functional impact.
Which DBQ is used for Hip, Ankylosis of?
VA's Hip and Thigh 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 Hip, Ankylosis of?
Common pitfalls when filing for Hip, Ankylosis of: No imaging included, leaving the claim without confirmation of the fusion and its angle; Lack of clear range-of-motion data to establish the current state of the joint.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5250)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.40, functional loss
- 38 CFR § 4.45, the joints
- 38 CFR § 4.59, painful motion
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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