Receiving VA Disability Ratings for Your Knee Pain

As a veteran, knee pain can significantly affect your day-to-day routine. If you have been having this problem, you are eligible to collect VA disability compensation. However, the VA uses various criteria to assess your condition before you can receive any benefits. 

An example is assessing functional loss based on speed, endurance, and coordination limitations. Unfortunately, the process can be long and tedious, and most people never receive maximum benefits from the VA.

In this guide, we elaborate on the issue of knee pain as a disability and point you towards how to win a VA disability claim for service-connected knee conditions.

The VA Rating Process for Knee Pain

Most veterans often ask whether knee pain is a disability. The simple answer is yes. However, claiming benefits from the VA can be pretty challenging because only knee conditions are recognized. 

When rating knee pain disabilities, the VA applies various diagnostic codes. The aim is to generate ratings based on physical challenges created by the knee condition. As a veteran, it is vital that you understand this rating system which will allow you to make your compensation claim.

The following is a list of ratings that the VA uses to diagnose veterans with kee conditions:

• Limitation of Flexion

This condition’s diagnostic code is 5260 and is the most common knee problem among veterans. The VA looks at the range of motion when one moves or curls the knee inwards – the more the bend, the lower the rating. The standard rating issued to veterans under 5260 is 10%, although the available percentages are 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. 

• Limitation of Extension

The diagnostic code here is 5261. This rating is given if the veteran’s knee is limited by extension, meaning it is impossible to straighten it completely. In addition, the VA will issue a rating as 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50%. The more challenging it is to straighten the knee, the higher the rating.

• Instability of the Knee

The instability of the knee disability rating falls under the diagnostic code 5257 and mainly considers how often a veteran’s knee dislocates. During a diagnosis, the VA will consider the prevalence of the knee’s side-to-side motion. Instability of the knee is attributed to injured tendons and conditions where the cartilage fails to hold the knee joint in place. 

It is vital to add that in this category, the VA issues a 10%, 20%, or 30% rating. Higher ratings are given when there is a high knee instability and vice versa.

• Total Knee Replacements

In this case, a 100% rating is given for one year after the veteran has undergone knee replacement surgery. The VA then issues ratings based on the knee challenges experienced after the one-year period lapses, with 60% being the maximum rating. An important point to note is that 30% is the minimum rating for problems encountered following a knee replacement.

• Partial Knee Replacements

Partial knee replacements lack a diagnostic code, as is the case with the other categories. The VA issues ratings based on knee problems that occur following knee replacement surgery on a veteran.

In the next section, we examine the different knee conditions that warrant VA disability compensation.

Knee Conditions That Can Warrant VA Disability Benefits

While knee pain cannot qualify you for VA benefits, knee conditions can. The following are some conditions that you can report:

• Osteomyelitis
• Degenerative arthritis
• Tuberculosis of the knee
• Gout
• Knee Instability
• Rheumatoid arthritis that affects the knees
• Bursitis
• Limited range of motion

If you have any of these eight conditions, the next step is to prove that they developed due to military service.

Here’s How to Prove Service Connection for Knee Pain

Establishing a direct service connection for your knee condition is never easy. However, if you can create a strong link between your knee pain and past military service, you can confidently begin the disability claims process. Here are three vital considerations that should set you towards receiving those benefits.

• Have a Positive Test Result

The first step is having a diagnosis showing that you have the condition for which you wish to be compensated. Next, ensure that you provide the VA with a diagnosis that directly connects the pain you have been experiencing to the knee condition.

• Provide Documentation Showing In-Service Activity That Caused the Knee Condition

You also need to connect an in-service incident with the knee condition or show that the occurrence aggravated the illness. The logic here is to gather all documents related to the said incident. This documentation should reveal the date and time of the incident, the associated medical reports, and how the occurrence led to increased pain levels.

Note: It is always better to document your pain and disability before leaving military service. Accessing documentation from the outside can be difficult because it is hard to prove how chronic conditions have deteriorated over time.

• Get a Medical Nexus Letter

Lastly, ensure that you get a medical nexus letter from your medical provider. These letters connect current (and documented) disabilities to in-service occurrences. Ideally, having this evidence can make or break your disability claim with the VA.

Secondary Service Connections

It is fundamental to note that you can prove a secondary service connection when you sustain a new condition related to a service-connected injury. In addition, a secondary service connection also appears when you aggravate a non-service disability with a service-connected incidence. 

Such illnesses include back injuries, hip injuries, osteoarthritis, foot injuries, partial knee joint replacements, or total keen joint replacements.

Getting Help for Your VA Knee Disability Claims 

If you are facing challenges with your VA disability claims process, we gladly offer our help. Veterans Help Group is an organization comprised of disability advocates with over 15 years of experience.

We understand that seeking compensation from the VA is a complicated process. Therefore, we do our best to ensure that veterans are appropriately compensated for service-related conditions. You can start with a free case evaluation or contact us at 855-855-8992.