What is the VA Rating for Knee Pain?
Updated Jan. 7, 2025
Military service demands a lot, mentally and physically. That ultimately takes a toll on your body, and hundreds of thousands of Veterans like you struggle with knee and leg pain related to their service. Knee and leg disabilities are some of the most common VA disability claims. If your knee or leg disability is service-connected, you could be eligible for compensation.
The VA Knee Pain Rating Chart Explained
The VA’s disability ratings for knee and leg disability ratings vary, and you can’t simply receive disability benefits for knee pain. However, knee pain is often due to specific conditions which could entitle you to VA benefits. Here, let’s take a closer look at common knee and leg disabilities and their respective disability ratings*.
*Note: The disability compensation rates displayed are for a single Veteran with no dependents in the year 2025. Compensation increases depending on whether you have a dependent spouse, parent, or children.
The VA Rating for Ankylosis of the Knee
Ankylosis refers to the severe stiffening and abnormal adhesion of a joint. This can significantly limit your knee’s range of motion, and most Veterans with this condition report pain and discomfort in their knees. Ankylosis of the knee is most commonly a result of an injury, disease, or past surgeries of the knees. Ankylosis of the knee often results in limited flexion of the knee. Flexion refers to your ability to kick your leg backward.
Limited flexion in the knee is the second-most common service-connected disability claimed of all time. The VA rates ankylosis of the knee according to Diagnostic Code 5256:
60% disability rating, $1,395.93 per month: Your knee is stuck, bent stiffly at an angle of 45º or more.
50% disability rating, $1,102.04 per month: Your knee is stuck and bent stiffly, but the angle is between 20-45º.
40% disability rating, $774.16 per month: Your knee’s angle is stuck between 10-20%
30% disability rating, $537.42 per month: You have ankylosis, but your knee is stuck in what’s considered a ‘favorable’ position — either fully extended or between 0-10º.
The VA Rating for Limitation of Leg Flexion
Flexion of the leg refers to the inability to bend your leg backward at the knee, bringing your heel toward your buttocks. You can imagine this movement as like a child swinging their leg backward while riding a scooter.
Limitation of flexion of the leg is rated according to Diagnostic Code 5260, which defines how much your leg should bend. Lying down on your stomach, your leg is at 0º, and your rating is based on the degree to which you can raise your leg from the knee.
30% disability rating, $537.42 per month: Your flexion is limited to 15º
20% disability rating, $346.95 per month: Your flexion is limited to 30º
10% disability rating, $175.51 per month: Your flexion is limited to 45º
Limitation of Extension of the Leg
Extension of the leg is essentially the reverse of flexion of the leg. It describes the condition where your leg can’t be brought forward at the knee, decreasing the angle between your legs, or can only be brought forward in a limited capacity. So, a straight leg would have an extension angle of 0º, and disability ratings for limitation of extension of the leg are based on the smallest angle you can bring your leg to.
Limited extension of the leg can cause an altered gait, i.e., the way you walk, so you may compensate for the inability to straighten your knee fully. This can lead to difficulty walking long distances or even short distances without discomfort. Alternatively, standing for prolonged periods can be uncomfortable or painful because your knee remains slightly bent, putting extra strain on the muscles and joints. Over time, limited extension of the leg can lead to issues with balance, stability, and overall mobility.
Limitation of extension of the leg is rated according to Diagnostic Code 5261:
50% disability rating, $1,102.04per month: Your extension is limited to 45º
40% disability rating, $774.16 per month: Your extension is limited to 30º
30% disability rating, $537.42 per month: Your extension is limited to 20º
20% disability rating, $346.95 per month: Your extension is limited to 15º
10% disability rating, $175.51 per month: Your extension is limited to 10º
Note that your ability to bend your leg depends on where the bending is being measured. For example, you may have a limitation of the extension of your knee, yet have no issues fully extending or flexing your leg at the hip. However, disabilities of the hip are rated according to different diagnostic codes.
Other Knee Disabilities
The following are other knee impairments under the Diagnostic Code 5257. While they slightly differ by definition, they both refer to dislocations.
Recurrent Subluxation or Instability
Subluxation in the knee means that the kneecap slides out of its normal place in the groove just at the center of the bottom end of the thigh bone. This can lead to a painful sensation where it feels like your knee is slipping out of place, and pain and swelling.
You could be rated at 30% (537.42 per month) by the VA when this becomes such a problem that your medical provider has prescribed you a mobility aid (like a walker, cane, or crutch).
Sprains and Tears
You could be rated at 20% ($346.95 per month) if you’ve had a service-connected sprain, an incomplete tear, or a complete tear which required surgical repair and hasn’t fully recovered, and you’ve been prescribed a brace or mobility aid.
You could also be rated at 20% ($346.95 per month) if you’ve been prescribed a mobility aid or brace for consistent instability and have a complete ligament tear that wasn’t repaired or was unsuccessfully repaired.
Finally, you could be rated at 10% ($175.51 per month) if you have a sprain, complete ligament tear, or incomplete ligament tear, and no prescription for a mobility aid.
Patellar Instability
When you’re suffering from patellar instability, the kneecap slips out of the femoral groove and into the thigh bone. This can lead to a partially or fully dislocated knee that could require surgery, physical therapy, or bracing.
You could be rated at 30% ($537.42per month) if you’ve undergone a repair surgery and still experience instability that requires a prescription for a brace and a cane or walker. You could be rated at 20% ($346.95 per month) if you have those same symptoms and a prescription for a brace, cane, or walker. Finally, you could be rated at 10% ($175.51 per month) if you have the same symptoms and medical history, but no prescription for a brace or mobility aid.
FAQs about VA Ratings for Knee Pain
Getting the compensation you’re entitled to for your knee pain can be difficult. Here, we’ll answer a few additional questions you might have.
Can I Receive VA Disability For My Knee Pain?
You typically can’t receive a VA disability rating for pain alone, but pain can contribute to your disability rating, particularly in cases where pain limits your functional range of motion. According to a case called DeLuca v. Brown, the VA must consider pain when rating a Veteran’s disability. Even if your range of motion physically appears to be unaffected by the disability, the VA must recognize that pain can limit your functional range of motion. Here’s how that works:
Let’s say you have a disability that limits your range of motion in your knee. Your knee is stuck, bent stiffly between 20-45º, which would typically qualify you for a 50% disability rating when only considering range-of-motion. However, if moving your knee to that extent creates significant pain, you may be rated at a higher level, such as 60%, for example.
What Conditions Can Be Secondary to Knee Pain?
Secondary conditions refer to mental or physical conditions caused by knee pain. Secondary conditions aren’t directly caused by a stressor or injury that occurs during your service but are a result of your other service-related injuries or illnesses. Let’s take a look at some examples related to the knees.
Depression: Knee pain can make it harder to accomplish the activities of daily living (ADL). For some, the assistance they require from friends or loved ones can make them feel like they are burdening the people around them. Additionally, people who have been able-bodied their entire lives may find it difficult to cope with their limited mobility. Many outcomes of knee pain like this can lead to depression.
Back pain: If you have ankylosis of the knee, it could impact your gait. Over time, this could lead to a deformity in your back or deteriorate your vertebrate.
There’s a wide variety of disabilities that could be secondary to knee pain caused by a service-connected disability. Consulting with your physician and ensuring you meet the requirements for proving the connection between your disabilities will give you the best foundation for your claim.
Can You Receive Multiple Ratings for Knee Pain?
Yes, but it depends on your specific disabilities. The VA doesn’t allow claim ‘pyramiding,’ or the practice of claiming the same disability under different diagnoses. That said, if you have two distinct conditions involving different knee or leg motions that are compensated by different rating criteria, you could be compensated for both of them.
VA claim pyramiding is important to avoid. Take the time to assess your disabilities with your physician so that you can submit the most detailed disability claims and avoid conflicts that could result in denial.
What Does the VA Recommend for Knee Pain?
The VA doesn't make any broad recommendations for Veterans struggling with knee pain. Each person’s disability is different, and knee and leg disabilities can manifest similar symptoms while having distinct causes.
However, common advice for Veterans struggling with knee pain is to lose weight if overweight, or use braces when necessary. Ultimately, you should consult with your physician for personalized care and pain and weight-loss management plans.
However, common tips for Veterans struggling with knee pain include losing weight or using knee braces where necessary. The knee braces reinforce your knees and enhance their stability. As we all know, the legs, especially the knees, are the body’s physical support system. This means that exposing the joints to prolonged pressure and weight may cause inflammation. By losing some weight, you can reduce the inflammatory response, thus making the situation better.
What Should I Do if My Claim for a Knee or Leg Disability is Denied?
If you filed a VA disability claim for a knee or leg disability and were denied, it can be exhausting. On top of dealing with ongoing pain and limited mobility, the process of filing an appeal is a daunting task. However, if your condition is service connected, you should receive the compensation you’re entitled to.
Depending on your circumstances, a hearing before a Board of Veterans’ Appeals, a higher-level review or supplemental claim could help you receive the benefits you were denied. To learn which type of appeal makes the most sense for your claim, contact me today to schedule a free* case evaluation.
Note: Consultations for Veterans’ Benefits Appeals Matters are free; however, consultations for Military Records Correction Issues and Medical/Physical Evaluation Boards are paid.