PARTIAL & TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
/Hudgens v. McDonald, docket no. 2015-7030 (Fed. Cir. May 18, 2016)
HELD: Diagnostic Code 5055 provides for a 100% rating for partial as well as total knee replacements.
SUMMARY: The Federal Circuit reversed the CAVC’s determination that DC 5055, which provides for a 100% disability rating for “[p]rosthetic replacement of knee joint . . . [f]or 1 year following implantation of prosthesis” applies only to total knee replacements and not partial knee replacements. (Note: While this appeal was pending, VA amended its regulation to clarify that language referring to “Prosthetic Implants” refers to replacement of the whole joint, unless otherwise stated in DC 5054.)
FULL DECISION
