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Femur Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5255 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5255 |
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.
OVERVIEW
Residual pain, malunion, and limited motion from a healed femur (thighbone) fracture, often with leg length discrepancy
RATING CRITERIA (8 LEVELS)
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.)
0%
Femur fracture residuals fully healed with normal ROM, no nonunion / malunion findings, no painful-motion residuals.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-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
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
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.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026