EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Hip Impingement (Femoroacetabular)
DC 5252 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5252 |
Hip Impingement (Femoroacetabular) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5252 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5252 across 5 severity tiers (40% / 30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). 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
Abnormal bone contact between the femoral head and acetabulum (cam or pincer type) causing groin pain and limited hip flexion/rotation
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5252 "Thigh, limitation of flexion of: Flexion limited to 10°" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5252.) End-stage FAI with severe capsular contracture.
30%
DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 20°" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5252.)
20%
DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 30°" = 20%; DC 5253 "Thigh, impairment of: Limitation of abduction of, motion lost beyond 10°" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5252-5253.)
10%
DC 5252 "Flexion limited to 45°" = 10%; DC 5253 "Limitation of rotation, cannot toe-out >15° affected leg" = 10% (highly relevant for cam-type FAI which limits internal rotation); DC 5253 "Limitation of adduction, cannot cross legs" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-major-joint fallback with painful motion / positive FADIR-FABER tests = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
FAI documented on imaging (cam alpha angle >55° on Dunn view, pincer LCEA >40°) without compensable ROM AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion findings / positive impingement tests.
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