Knee Conditions VA Disability Rating: Criteria, Evidence & Pay

What are knee conditions and how do they affect veterans?

Knee injuries and conditions are among the most common musculoskeletal disabilities claimed by veterans. Military service puts enormous strain on the knees through running, marching with heavy loads, jumping, kneeling, climbing in and out of vehicles, and the general physical demands of training and deployment. Over years of service, this repetitive stress breaks down cartilage, damages ligaments, and causes degenerative changes that often don’t fully manifest until years after separation.

Knee problems affect mobility in fundamental ways. Walking, climbing stairs, standing for extended periods, squatting, and kneeling all become painful or impossible. Many veterans with knee conditions find that their quality of life declines progressively as the joint deteriorates, and activities they once did without thought now require careful planning and pain management.

The VA rates knee conditions under several diagnostic codes depending on the specific impairment. The most common is DC 5260 for limitation of flexion (bending). However, the same knee can receive separate ratings for limitation of extension (DC 5261), instability or subluxation (DC 5257), cartilage issues (DC 5258/5259), and ankylosis (DC 5256). Understanding these separate rating possibilities is key to maximizing your disability compensation.

VA diagnostic code for knee conditions

Limitation of knee flexion is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5260 per 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings — Musculoskeletal System.

Other knee diagnostic codes include:

• DC 5257 — Recurrent subluxation or lateral instability (rated at 10%, 20%, or 30%)
• DC 5258 — Dislocated semilunar cartilage (meniscus) with locking, pain, and effusion (20%)
• DC 5259 — Removal of semilunar cartilage, symptomatic (10%)
• DC 5261 — Limitation of extension (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%)
• DC 5256 — Ankylosis (30%, 40%, 50%, 60%)
• DC 5003 — Degenerative arthritis (rated based on limitation of motion or 10%/20% with X-ray evidence)

A single knee can receive ratings under multiple codes if the impairments are distinct. This is one of the most important things to understand about knee ratings.

Rating criteria for knee flexion limitation (DC 5260)

Normal knee flexion is 140 degrees (fully bent). The VA rates limitation of flexion at four levels:

0% rating

Criteria: Flexion limited to 60 degrees.

Monthly payment: $0 (but establishes service connection)

What this looks like: You can bend your knee to about 60 degrees — a significant limitation from normal (140 degrees), but not enough for a compensable rating under the flexion code alone. Note that if you have arthritis confirmed by X-ray and painful motion, you may still qualify for at least 10% under DC 5003.

10% rating — $180.42/month

Criteria: Flexion limited to 45 degrees.

What this looks like: You can bend your knee to about 45 degrees — roughly a third of normal range. Bending down, squatting, and climbing stairs are noticeably difficult. Getting in and out of a car requires adjustment.

20% rating — $356.66/month

Criteria: Flexion limited to 30 degrees.

What this looks like: Your knee barely bends. Activities requiring significant knee bend — sitting in a low chair, climbing stairs, kneeling — are extremely difficult or impossible. Your mobility is substantially impaired.

30% rating — $552.47/month

Criteria: Flexion limited to 15 degrees.

What this looks like: Your knee is nearly locked in position with minimal bending ability. This level of restriction severely limits virtually all lower-body movements and most physical activities. Walking may require an assistive device.

Additional knee ratings you may qualify for

Limitation of extension (DC 5261)

Normal extension is 0 degrees (leg fully straight). This is rated separately from flexion:

• 0%: Extension limited to 5 degrees
• 10%: Extension limited to 10 degrees — $180.42/month
• 20%: Extension limited to 15 degrees — $356.66/month
• 30%: Extension limited to 20 degrees — $552.47/month
• 40%: Extension limited to 30 degrees — $795.84/month
• 50%: Extension limited to 45 degrees — $1,132.90/month

Instability (DC 5257)

Rated based on severity of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability:

• 10%: Slight instability — $180.42/month
• 20%: Moderate instability — $356.66/month
• 30%: Severe instability — $552.47/month

Important: You can receive a flexion rating AND an extension rating AND an instability rating for the same knee. This is confirmed by VAOPGCPREC 23-97 and VAOPGCPREC 9-04.

What evidence do you need?

Service records

• Service treatment records documenting knee injuries, complaints, or treatment
• Line of duty determinations for knee injuries
• DD-214 showing MOS involving heavy physical demands (infantry, airborne, combat engineer)
• Physical profiles or duty limitations for knee problems
• Records of any in-service knee surgery

Medical evidence

• Current imaging (X-rays, MRI) showing the condition of your knee joint
• Range of motion measurements from your treating physician
• Physical therapy records
• Surgical records if applicable
• Documentation of knee instability testing (Lachman test, McMurray test)
• Treatment records showing ongoing symptoms and limitations

Nexus letter

A medical opinion connecting your knee condition to service. The letter should reference specific service activities that caused or contributed to the condition — running with heavy packs, parachute jumps, kneeling on hard surfaces, vehicle vibration, or specific injuries.

Buddy statements

Statements from fellow service members who witnessed knee injuries or the physical demands that contributed to your condition. Statements from family describing how your knee limits daily activities — difficulty with stairs, inability to play with children, need for assistive devices.

C&P exam tips for knee conditions

What the examiner evaluates

• Range of motion (flexion and extension) measured with a goniometer
• Pain on motion — at what degree pain begins
• Additional functional loss during flare-ups and after repetitive use (DeLuca factors)
• Joint stability (anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral stability tests)
• Evidence of meniscal conditions (locking, effusion)
• Gait assessment
• Whether you use assistive devices (brace, cane)

How to prepare

1. Don’t take pain medication before the exam. You want the examiner to measure your actual range of motion, not your medicated range of motion.
2. Report flare-ups clearly. Under DeLuca, the examiner must estimate additional motion loss during flare-ups. Describe how often flare-ups happen, how long they last, and how much more limited your knee is during one.
3. Mention instability. If your knee gives out, buckles, or feels unstable, tell the examiner explicitly. This can result in a separate rating under DC 5257.
4. Describe locking and catching. If your knee locks up or catches, this could support a rating under DC 5258 for meniscal damage.
5. Stop when it hurts. During range of motion testing, don’t push through significant pain. Stop at the point where pain limits you — that’s the measurement that matters for your rating.
6. Describe daily impact. Explain specifically what you can’t do — how many stairs you can climb, how far you can walk, whether you need a brace or cane, how it affects your job.

Common secondary conditions linked to knee conditions

Knee conditions frequently cause or worsen other conditions:

• Back pain — Altered gait from a knee condition places abnormal stress on the spine. Limping or favoring one leg commonly leads to lumbar spine problems.
• Opposite knee — Favoring your injured knee overloads the other one. If your left knee is service-connected, you can claim the right knee as secondary.
• Hip conditions — Altered gait mechanics from knee problems frequently cause hip pain and degeneration.
• Anxiety and depression — Chronic pain and loss of mobility significantly increase the risk of mental health conditions.
• Sleep apnea — Reduced mobility leads to weight gain, a major risk factor for sleep apnea.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your total VA disability payment depends on your combined rating across all service-connected conditions. Remember that a single knee can receive multiple separate ratings (flexion, extension, instability), and if both knees are affected, each is rated independently. Bilateral knee conditions also receive a bilateral factor boost in the combined rating calculation.

Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating including multiple knee ratings
• See how VA math handles bilateral conditions
• Estimate your monthly payment including dependents

For the full breakdown of payment amounts at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.