What rates 0% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 0% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: Femur fracture residuals fully healed with normal ROM, no nonunion / malunion findings, no painful-motion residuals.

What happens during a C&P exam for Femur Fracture (Residuals)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

← All Condition Guides

CLAIM RECON INTEL

Femur Fracture (Residuals)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Femur Fracture (Residuals)?

Femur Fracture (Residuals) (DC 5255) is rated at 80%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255. DC 5255 "Femur, impairment of: Fracture of shaft or anatomical neck of: With nonunion, with loose motion (spiral or oblique fracture)" = 80%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5255.) Footnote 3 — SMC entitled.

Q: What rates 80% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 80% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5255 "Femur, impairment of: Fracture of shaft or anatomical neck of: With nonunion, with loose motion (spiral or oblique fracture)" = 80%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5255.) Footnote 3 — SMC entitled.

Q: What rates 60% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 60% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5255 "Femur: With nonunion, without loose motion, weight bearing preserved with aid of brace" = 60%; "Fracture of surgical neck of, with false joint" = 60%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5255.) Footnote 3 — SMC entitled.

Q: What rates 50% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 50% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5255 Malunion clause: rate under DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis, in flexion 20-45°" = 50% if knee impact, OR DC 5261 "Leg extension limited to 45°" = 50% (verbatim § 4.71a). Severe malunion producing 50%-tier impairment under alternative DC per the explicit cross-reference clause.

Q: What rates 40% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 40% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 10°" = 40% (via DC 5255 Malunion clause); DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis in flexion 20°-45°" = 50% — when knee impact predominates. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What rates 30% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 30% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 20°" = 30%; DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis 0-10°" = 30%; DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 15°" = 30%; DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 20°" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What rates 20% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 20% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 30°" = 20%; DC 5253 "Abduction beyond 10°" = 20%; DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 30°" = 20%; DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 15°" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) ⚠ DC 5003 X-ray-only 20% may apply for DC 5255 (not in 5013-5024 exclusion range).

Q: What rates 10% for Femur Fracture (Residuals) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 (DC 5255), a 10% rating for Femur Fracture (Residuals) requires: DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 45°" = 10%; DC 5253 various 10% tiers; DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 45°" = 10%; DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 10°" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback with painful motion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Q: What evidence do I need for a Femur Fracture (Residuals) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Femur Fracture (Residuals) claim includes: Service treatment records showing injury or complaints; Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT); Range of motion measurements; Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin; Buddy statements describing limitations. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 525538 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5255

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

0–80%

8 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Femur Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5255 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 across 8 severity tiers (80% / 60% / 50% / 40% / 30%…). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Residual pain, malunion, and limited motion from a healed femur (thighbone) fracture, often with leg length discrepancy

Rating Criteria

80%

DC 5255 "Femur, impairment of: Fracture of shaft or anatomical neck of: With nonunion, with loose motion (spiral or oblique fracture)" = 80%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5255.) Footnote 3 — SMC entitled.

60%

DC 5255 "Femur: With nonunion, without loose motion, weight bearing preserved with aid of brace" = 60%; "Fracture of surgical neck of, with false joint" = 60%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5255.) Footnote 3 — SMC entitled.

50%

DC 5255 Malunion clause: rate under DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis, in flexion 20-45°" = 50% if knee impact, OR DC 5261 "Leg extension limited to 45°" = 50% (verbatim § 4.71a). Severe malunion producing 50%-tier impairment under alternative DC per the explicit cross-reference clause.

40%

DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 10°" = 40% (via DC 5255 Malunion clause); DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis in flexion 20°-45°" = 50% — when knee impact predominates. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

30%

DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 20°" = 30%; DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis 0-10°" = 30%; DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 15°" = 30%; DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 20°" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

20%

DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 30°" = 20%; DC 5253 "Abduction beyond 10°" = 20%; DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 30°" = 20%; DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 15°" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) ⚠ DC 5003 X-ray-only 20% may apply for DC 5255 (not in 5013-5024 exclusion range).

10%

DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 45°" = 10%; DC 5253 various 10% tiers; DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 45°" = 10%; DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 10°" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback with painful motion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)

Femur fracture residuals fully healed with normal ROM, no nonunion / malunion findings, no painful-motion residuals.

03Key Evidence

—Service treatment records showing injury or complaints

—Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)

—Range of motion measurements

—Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin

—Buddy statements describing limitations

—Prescription history

—Physical therapy records

—Employment impact documentation

04C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.

View 38 C.F.R. Part 4 on eCFR →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

LOADING