Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Ankle
This diagnostic code covers veterans who have received an ankle replacement (artificial ankle joint). The VA gives you an automatic 100% rating for the full first year after your ankle replacement surgery, regardless of how well you're doing. After that year, your rating drops to either 40% if you have severe ongoing pain or weakness in the ankle, or 20% as the minimum rating if you're doing better.
Rating levels
- 100% — If you receive an artificial ankle joint (prosthesis), you automatically qualify for this rating for the full first year after the surgery. This temporary rating recognizes that you need time to heal and adjust to the prosthetic ankle before the VA can properly evaluate your long-term function and any remaining limitations.
- 40% — If you have an artificial ankle joint and experience severe pain when you move your ankle or significant weakness in that ankle, you qualify for this rating. The pain must be chronic (long-lasting and ongoing) and occur specifically during movement of the prosthetic ankle. The weakness must also be notable enough to affect your daily activities or mobility.
- 20% — If you've had your ankle joint completely replaced with an artificial joint (prosthesis), you automatically qualify for this rating level as the minimum compensation. This applies regardless of how well the artificial ankle is functioning, because having any major joint replaced with hardware is considered a significant permanent disability that deserves compensation.