Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed on aging veterans — and one of the least understood when it comes to VA disability ratings. If you served in the military and later needed a total or partial hip replacement due to conditions related to your service, you may be entitled to a 100% temporary rating followed by a permanent minimum of 30%. This guide walks you through exactly how the VA rates hip replacements, what diagnostic codes apply, how to file a claim, and which secondary conditions you should be claiming alongside your hip.
The VA rates hip replacement (total or partial arthroplasty) under Diagnostic Code 5054 in 38 CFR Part 4, §4.71a. This code covers both total hip arthroplasty (THA) and femoral head prosthesis procedures. It does not require that the hip condition itself be directly service-connected — what matters is whether the underlying condition that led to the hip replacement is service-connected.
DC 5054 is specifically designed for prosthetic joint replacements of the hip. If you have had a hip replacement and your underlying hip condition (osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, traumatic arthritis, hip fracture) is service-connected, your replacement is automatically covered under this code.
| Rating | Criteria Under DC 5054 |
|---|---|
| 100% | For 1 year from date of surgery (convalescence period) |
| 70% | Chronic residuals with painful motion or weakness; motion limited to less than 10° of flexion; nonunion or complication |
| 50% | Painful motion of the hip with stiffness; motion limited to less than 20° of flexion with painful weight-bearing |
| 30% | Minimum rating following hip replacement (applies even with good surgical result) |
Even if your hip replacement went perfectly and you're walking without a limp, the VA must assign at least 30% for a service-connected hip prosthesis. This is a hard floor written into the regulation — it cannot go lower, no matter how well you recovered.
When you have a hip replacement, the VA assigns a temporary 100% rating beginning on the date of surgery and lasting for one full year. This temporary total disability is sometimes called the "convalescence rating" and is designed to recognize that you are effectively non-functional immediately following joint replacement surgery.
The 100% rating during convalescence means you receive full VA disability compensation for that year, regardless of the outcome of the surgery. After the one-year period ends, the VA schedules a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam to re-evaluate your residual disability and assign a permanent rating based on the criteria above (30%, 50%, or 70%).
The one-year period begins on the actual date of surgery, not the date you file your claim. This is important: if you had hip replacement surgery in 2020 but only filed your VA claim in 2022, you cannot retroactively receive the 100% convalescence rating for 2020–2021. File your claim as quickly as possible after surgery — ideally before the procedure so your effective date is maximized.
If your hip replacement is scheduled and you are service-connected (or planning to file for service connection), submit an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) before the surgery date. This locks in an effective date up to one year before you submit your full claim, potentially capturing the entire convalescence period.
After the one-year convalescence period, the VA evaluates your hip based on what the prosthesis actually provides — or fails to provide — in terms of functional ability.
A 30% rating applies when the hip replacement has healed well with a good range of motion, no significant pain, and no complications. Even with near-normal function, you never fall below 30% under DC 5054. This compensates for the permanent nature of having a prosthetic joint, the lifelong activity restrictions, and the eventual need for revision surgery.
If your hip replacement resulted in persistent pain with weight-bearing, significant stiffness, or limitation of flexion to less than 20° with painful motion, you qualify for 50%. Many veterans who have had complications — scar tissue, bursitis, heterotopic ossification (bone growth around the joint), or partial failure — qualify at this level.
A 70% rating applies when the hip replacement has left you with severe limitations: motion essentially absent (less than 10° of flexion), marked weakness, nonunion of the prosthesis, or other significant complications requiring ongoing treatment. This level is also appropriate if you require a second revision surgery.
To claim VA compensation for a hip replacement, you must first establish service connection for the underlying hip condition. Common pathways include:
The most common underlying conditions that lead to hip replacement in veterans include osteoarthritis (often from years of physical duty), post-traumatic arthritis from in-service hip fractures, and avascular necrosis (bone death from blood supply disruption).
A service-connected hip condition — or the hip replacement itself — can cause or aggravate other conditions. Filing these secondary claims can significantly increase your combined VA rating.
Hip pathology almost invariably affects the lumbar spine. When your hip hurts, you compensate by altering your gait and posture, which places uneven stress on the lumbar vertebrae and surrounding musculature. Over time, this compensation causes or accelerates degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy, and muscle strain in the low back. If you have a service-connected hip condition, your back pain may qualify as a secondary condition under 38 CFR §3.310.
Gait compensation from hip problems also affects the knees. Veterans with hip replacements frequently develop excess stress on the contralateral (opposite side) knee, leading to medial compartment osteoarthritis. See our guide on VA knee injury ratings for the specific diagnostic codes that apply.
Hip surgery carries a risk of sciatic nerve injury (the sciatic nerve runs directly behind the hip joint). If you developed numbness, weakness, or radicular pain in the leg after hip surgery, this nerve damage may be ratable as a separate secondary condition.
Chronic pain and functional limitation from hip conditions frequently cause or worsen mental health conditions. If you have a service-connected hip condition and developed depression, anxiety, or adjustment disorder due to the pain and disability, those mental health conditions may qualify as secondary claims.
Use claim.vet's free navigator to identify all the conditions you should be claiming — including secondary conditions you might be missing.
Get Free Help with Your Claim →A nexus letter is a written medical opinion connecting your current condition to your military service. For hip replacement claims, you need a nexus letter that:
If your claim is secondary to another service-connected condition, the nexus letter must address how that primary condition caused or aggravated the hip — not just that both conditions exist simultaneously.
You can obtain a nexus letter from your orthopedic surgeon, primary care physician, or a physician who specializes in writing VA nexus opinions. The letter should be specific to your case — generic template letters are less persuasive to VA raters. A VA-accredited attorney can help you obtain a strong nexus letter that meets the legal standard. Connect with a free VA attorney to get guidance.
After your initial 100% convalescence period ends, the VA will schedule a C&P examination to determine your permanent rating. Here's what the examiner will assess under DC 5054:
Bring a list of all hip-related symptoms and how they affect your daily life. Mention any activities you can no longer perform. Do not minimize your symptoms on the day of the exam — describe your worst days, not your best.
Filing a hip replacement claim follows the standard VA disability claims process:
Submit your Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) before your hip replacement surgery. This establishes an effective date that can include the entire 100% convalescence period — potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars in retroactive compensation.
Related guides that may help: VA Disability Rating for Knee Replacement, Hip & Knee Pain Secondary to Gait Changes, Secondary Service Connection Guide, and How to Get a Nexus Letter.
Editorial Standards: This article was written by Marcus J. Webb, a veterans benefits researcher who has studied 38 CFR Part 4, the VA M21-1 Adjudication Manual, and thousands of BVA decisions. Content is verified against current 38 CFR regulations and VA.gov guidance. Last reviewed: April 2026. Not legal advice — for representation on your specific claim, talk to a VA-accredited attorney.