38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.71a
Thigh, limitation of flexion of — VA Diagnostic Code 5252
Musculoskeletal
Diagnostic code
5252
38 CFR § 4.71a lists Diagnostic Code 5252 with the hip and thigh codes. The title is “Thigh, limitation of flexion of.” Flexion limited to 10 degrees is 40 percent. Flexion limited to 45 degrees is 10 percent. VA’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Benefits Report lists “Limitation of flexion of the thigh” among the ten most prevalent service-connected disabilities of Gulf War Era compensation recipients (660,227). That figure is the Gulf War Era count in the report, not a count of all compensation recipients. The report is on [benefits.va.gov](https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2024-abr.pdf).
Reviewed 2026-10-03. Text checked against eCFR on 2026-10-05; Title 38 last amended 2026-08-27. On that date the titles list showed Title 38 up to date as of 2026-10-01 (latest issue date 2026-08-27).
The rating criteria at each level
Thigh, limitation of flexion of
Rating %: 40
Criteria (verbatim). Flexion limited to 10°
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Flexion limited to 20°
Rating %: 20
Criteria (verbatim). Flexion limited to 30°
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Flexion limited to 45°
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 40 | Flexion limited to 10° |
| 30 | Flexion limited to 20° |
| 20 | Flexion limited to 30° |
| 10 | Flexion limited to 45° |
DC 5252 does not print a 0 percent line. There is no 50 percent line under this code.
38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a zero percent evaluation when the schedule does not provide one and the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a (Schedule of ratings—musculoskeletal system), Diagnostic Code 5252, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-08-27. Gulf War Era count: VBA Annual Benefits Report, Fiscal Year 2024.
What the words mean in your records
Flexion limited to
The four lines are 10, 20, 30, and 45 degrees. A smaller degree is a higher percentage. Flexion limited to 10 degrees is 40 percent. Flexion limited to 45 degrees is 10 percent.
How thigh flexion is measured
38 CFR § 4.46 (Accurate measurement) says the use of a goniometer in the measurement of limitation of motion is indispensable in examinations conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 38 CFR § 4.59 (Painful motion) says 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. The same section says the intent is to recognize actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint. 38 CFR § 4.40 (Functional loss) says functional loss may be due to pain, supported by adequate pathology and evidenced by the visible behavior of the claimant undertaking the motion, and that weakness is as important as limitation of motion. 38 CFR § 4.45 (The joints) directs inquiry to less movement than normal, more movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, and pain on movement, swelling, deformity, or atrophy of disuse. For arthritis, it names the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle as major joints. 38 CFR § 4.71 says Plates I and II provide a standardized description of ankylosis and joint motion measurement. This page does not retype the plates.
Evidence that speaks to each level
40 — flexion limited to 10°
What the rater needs to see. Thigh flexion limited to 10 degrees.
Where that usually lives. Goniometer measurement under § 4.46.
20 — flexion limited to 30°
What the rater needs to see. Thigh flexion limited to 30 degrees. That is the 20 percent line. It is not a 30 percent line.
Where that usually lives. The same examination. VA’s public DBQ list names “Hip and Thigh.”
10 — flexion limited to 45°
What the rater needs to see. Thigh flexion limited to 45 degrees.
Where that usually lives. Active and passive motion, and weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing when § 4.59 applies.
0 — compensable lines not met
What the rater needs to see. Section 4.31 assigns 0 percent when a compensable line is not met. The 10 percent line is flexion limited to 45 degrees.
Where that usually lives. The same flexion measurement.
This site does not yet have a hip DBQ guide. The index is DBQ guides. The public form, checked October 3, 2026, is “Hip and Thigh” on the DBQ list.
The exam form
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 3, 2026, names “Hip and Thigh” under Musculoskeletal. It is a public form.
Section 4.46 requires a goniometer for limitation of motion. Section 4.59 requires pain testing on active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing, and, if possible, with the opposite undamaged joint. Section 4.45 names the hip as a major joint for arthritis.
Related codes and how they interact
Other hip and thigh codes
DC 5250 is ankylosis of the hip. The public page is the hip guide.
DC 5251 is limitation of extension of the thigh. The only line is extension limited to 5 degrees, 10 percent.
DC 5253 rates abduction lost beyond 10 degrees at 20 percent, and adduction or rotation at 10 percent.
DC 5254 is “Hip, flail joint,” 80 percent.
DC 5054 is hip resurfacing or replacement. The public page is the hip replacement guide. Its note says that at the conclusion of the 100 percent evaluation period, evaluate resurfacing under diagnostic codes 5250 through 5255.
38 CFR § 4.71a Diagnostic Code 5003, “Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic,” says degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings is rated on limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved. When that limitation is noncompensable under those codes, “a rating of 10 pct is for application for each such major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion, to be combined, not added under diagnostic code 5003.” Limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. In the absence of limitation of motion, the code prints 20 for X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations, and 10 for that X-ray involvement without the exacerbations line. Note (1): those 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings will not be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion. DC 5010, “Post-traumatic arthritis,” says: “Rate as limitation of motion, dislocation, or other specified instability under the affected joint. If there are 2 or more joints affected, each rating shall be combined in accordance with § 4.25.”
38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided. DC 5252 does not print a rule for assigning it together with DC 5251 or DC 5253.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
No secondary condition is named in DC 5252. 38 CFR § 3.309 (Disease subject to presumptive service connection) lists “Arthritis” among the chronic diseases. It does not name this diagnostic code. The chronic-disease rule uses the time limits in 38 CFR § 3.307. Paragraph (a)(3) says the disease must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within 1 year (for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis, within 3 years; multiple sclerosis, within 7 years) from the date of separation from service. Any secondary question that is not written into the schedule is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310 (Disabilities that are proximately due to, or aggravated by, service-connected disease or injury). Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.
Short answers
What is the VA rating for limitation of flexion of the thigh?
Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5252, flexion limited to 10 degrees is 40 percent, to 20 degrees is 30 percent, to 30 degrees is 20 percent, and to 45 degrees is 10 percent. The code prints no 0 percent line. Section 4.31 covers that gap. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Which code rates thigh extension?
DC 5251. The only line is extension limited to 5 degrees, 10 percent. Abduction, adduction, and rotation are DC 5253.
FAQ
How does VA rate limitation of thigh flexion under DC 5252?
Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, flexion limited to 10 degrees is 40 percent, to 20 degrees is 30 percent, to 30 degrees is 20 percent, and to 45 degrees is 10 percent. Education only.
Is flexion limited to 45 degrees a 20 percent rating?
No. Flexion limited to 45 degrees is the 10 percent line. Flexion limited to 30 degrees is the 20 percent line. Flexion limited to 10 degrees is the 40 percent line.
What does the 660,227 figure mean?
The Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Benefits Report lists “Limitation of flexion of the thigh” with 660,227 among Gulf War Era compensation recipients. The report’s all-recipients top ten does not include that disability. The figure is not a rating.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 5252 and the thigh-flexion degrees.
- The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the measurements, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. C&P prep (Founding Pass) is a separate worksheet. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
- The hip family page is the hip guide. Neighboring codes are on the musculoskeletal diagnostic-code index.
Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.
Other codes in this body system
Nearby catalog entries in Musculoskeletal, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Musculoskeletal codes
- DC 5239Spondylolisthesis or segmental instability
- DC 5240Ankylosing spondylitis
- DC 5241Spinal fusion
- DC 5242Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010)
- DC 5243Intervertebral disc syndrome
- DC 5244Traumatic paralysis, complete
- DC 5250Hip, ankylosis
- DC 5251Thigh, limitation of extension
- DC 5253Thigh, impairment
- DC 5254Hip, flail joint
- DC 5255Femur, impairment
- DC 5256Knee, ankylosis
- DC 5257Knee, other impairment
- DC 5258Cartilage, semilunar, dislocated
- DC 5259Cartilage, semilunar, removal
- DC 5260Leg, limitation of flexion
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 5252 • va.gov
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.