Reviewed by Jonathan Teplitsky · Updated June 2026
How does the VA rate a hip replacement?
The VA rates a hip replacement (a prosthetic hip) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5054. The rule has two parts. First, you get an automatic 100% rating for 13 months after the new hip is implanted. Then the VA looks at how the hip is actually working and gives you a long-term "residual" rating of 30%, 70%, or 90%. The lowest the rating can ever go is 30%.
The automatic 100% year - and the re-exam that follows
After your hip is replaced, DC 5054 gives you 100% pay for 13 months. That is the month of your surgery plus the next 12 months. This is the same recovery rule the VA uses for knee replacements under DC 5055.
Here is the part many veterans miss: the 100% is temporary by design. When the 13 months are up, the VA must schedule a re-examination. There is no avoiding it. At that exam, a doctor measures how much weakness, pain, and lost motion your new hip still has. The VA then drops you from 100% to a residual rating that matches those findings.
Residual ratings under DC 5054
Once the 100% period ends, your rating is set by how the hip performs. Here is the full timeline and the residual levels:
| Rating | When it applies |
|---|---|
| 100% | For 13 months after the hip is implanted (month of surgery + 12 months). A re-exam is then required. |
| 90% | Markedly severe residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion following the implantation. |
| 70% | Moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion. |
| 30% | Minimum rating - the floor after the 100% year, no matter how well the hip heals. |
The 30% minimum floor
This is the second point most guides skip. DC 5054 sets a permanent 30% minimum. Even if your surgery is a complete success and you walk with almost no pain, your hip cannot be rated below 30%. The VA recognizes that a prosthetic joint always carries some lifelong limitation. So the 30% floor protects you - your rating can rise above it, but it can never drop under it.
Secondary connections: how veterans get here
Many veterans do not injure the hip directly in service. Instead, the replacement is a downstream result of another service-connected problem:
- Hip arthritis to replacement. Service-connected arthritis in the hip can wear the joint out until a replacement is the only fix.
- Altered gait to hip damage. A service-connected lumbar spine condition or knee condition can change how you walk. Years of an uneven gait put extra stress on the hip and break it down.
When the hip is caused by another service-connected condition, you file it as a secondary claim. A nexus letter from a doctor that links the two is often what wins these cases.
Evidence that builds a strong claim
To get the rating you deserve, give the VA proof of both the surgery and its aftermath:
- The operative (surgical) report confirming the total hip arthroplasty.
- Post-op range-of-motion measurements showing how far the hip bends and rotates.
- Records of ongoing pain and weakness, including which daily activities are limited.
- A gait analysis or notes on limping, since altered walking drives both the rating and any secondary claims.
How to file and what to expect at the C&P exam
File your claim listing the hip and how it connects to service - directly, or as secondary to another service-connected condition. The VA will schedule a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. The examiner measures your range of motion, tests for weakness and pain, and watches how you walk. Bring your surgical records so the date of implantation is clear, because that date controls when your 100% year starts and ends. You can estimate how the hip combines with your other ratings using our VA disability rating calculator.
The full text of Diagnostic Code 5054 lives in 38 CFR Part 4.
Quick answers
How long is the 100% rating after a hip replacement?
13 months total - the month of surgery plus 12 months. Then a mandatory re-exam sets your residual rating.
What is the lowest a hip replacement can be rated?
30%. DC 5054 sets a permanent minimum, so the rating can never fall below 30% even after a great recovery.
When can my hip be rated 70% or 90%?
70% for moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or lost motion; 90% for markedly severe residuals.
Can a hip replacement be secondary to my back or knee?
Yes. A service-connected back or knee condition that changes your gait can wear out the hip. A nexus letter links the two.
Will the VA re-examine my hip?
Yes. A re-exam is required at the end of the 13-month 100% period and is used to assign your long-term rating.