EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Joint Replacement Revision Surgery
DC 5055 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5055 |
Joint Replacement Revision Surgery is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5055 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5055 across 3 severity tiers (100% / 60% / 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
Revision surgery to replace a failed, worn, or infected joint prosthesis, often with greater bone loss and worse functional outcomes
RATING CRITERIA (3 LEVELS)
100%
§ 4.71a NOTE (2) verbatim — Only evaluate a revision procedure in the same manner as the original procedure under DCs 5051-5056 if ALL the original components are replaced. For a complete revision of any joint prosthesis (shoulder DC 5051 / elbow DC 5052 / wrist DC 5053 / hip DC 5054 / knee DC 5055 / ankle DC 5056), the 100% post-implantation period restarts: 1 year for shoulder/elbow/wrist/ankle, 4 months for hip/knee. Footnote 1 SMC during the 100% period.
60%
For partial-revision procedures (only some components replaced), do NOT restart the 100% period. Instead, evaluate under the appropriate residual tier of the underlying DC (severe painful motion or weakness tier — 60% typical for shoulder/elbow/knee). The specific rating depends on which joint + which residual level.
30%
For partial revisions producing only minor residual symptoms, rate under the minimum-evaluation tier of the underlying DC (shoulder 30/20, elbow 40/30, wrist 30, hip 30 total only, knee 30 total only, ankle 20). Per Note (1), no additional § 4.71a rating for the same joint.
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