Leg, amputation of: at a lower level, permitting prosthesis DC 5165
VA rates it under diagnostic code 5165 in 38 CFR 4.71a. Body system: Legs & feet.
How VA rates it
The schedule has one rating level for this code: 40%.
It affects one leg, so each side is rated on its own. When both sides are rated, VA adds the bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26).
The schedule marks this code for special monthly compensation (SMC-K), which is paid on top of your combined rating.
Source: 38 CFR 4.71a on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 40% | At a lower level, permitting prosthesis |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.71a, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Conditions it can lead to
If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.
Arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) DC 7005 Established link
If both legs were amputated above the ankle because of service, VA's rule says later heart disease is caused by the amputations. One below-knee amputation alone does not qualify.
What to gather: Service connection for amputations of both legs above the ankle, plus a diagnosis of heart disease.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(c) (heart disease after leg amputation)
Knee (limited flexion) DC 5260 Possible link
After a leg amputation the other knee carries extra load, and arthritis in that knee is a documented long-term problem.
What to gather: A diagnosis of the second joint and a medical opinion explaining how the first condition changed the way you walk or carry weight.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Gailey et al., Secondary physical conditions after lower-limb amputation (J Rehabil Res Dev, 2008)
Lower back (lumbosacral strain / DDD) DC 5237, 5242 Possible link
Walking with a prosthesis changes posture and stride, and lower back pain is a common long-term problem after leg amputation.
What to gather: A diagnosis of the second joint and a medical opinion explaining how the first condition changed the way you walk or carry weight.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Gailey et al., Secondary physical conditions after lower-limb amputation (J Rehabil Res Dev, 2008)
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
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