Knee injuries are one of the most common service-connected disabilities in the VA system. They are also one of the most frequently underrated. Many veterans receive a single rating for their knee when they are legally entitled to multiple separate ratings for the same joint.
This page explains how the VA rates knee conditions in 2026, which diagnostic codes apply, and what secondary conditions you should be filing alongside your knee claim.
How the VA Rates Knee Conditions
The VA does not use one universal code for all knee disabilities. It uses several diagnostic codes, and the code that applies to your claim depends on what your knee actually cannot do.
The three most common codes are:
DC 5260 - Limitation of Flexion
This code applies when you cannot fully bend your knee. Normal knee flexion is about 140 degrees. The VA assigns ratings based on how limited your bending is:
- 10%: Flexion limited to 45 degrees or less
- 20%: Flexion limited to 30 degrees
- 30%: Flexion limited to 15 degrees
DC 5261 - Limitation of Extension
This code applies when you cannot fully straighten your knee. Limited extension affects your gait, your balance, and how you walk up stairs or inclines. The VA rates extension limitation from 10% up to 50% depending on the degree of restriction.
DC 5257 - Recurrent Subluxation or Lateral Instability
This code applies when your knee gives out, buckles, or feels unstable. Ratings run from 0% to 30% based on severity:
- 10%: Slight instability
- 20%: Moderate instability
- 30%: Severe instability
The Rule Most Veterans Miss
Under VA General Counsel Opinion VAOPGCPREC 23-97, the VA can assign separate ratings for instability and limitation of motion on the same knee. This means a veteran with limited flexion AND instability in the same knee can receive a 10% rating under DC 5260 and a separate 10% rating under DC 5257.
A VA General Counsel opinion (VAOPGCPREC 9-2004) also confirmed that limited flexion and limited extension of the same knee can be rated separately under DC 5260 and DC 5261 at the same time.
Most veterans leave this on the table. If your rating decision only shows one diagnostic code for your knee, it is worth having a VA-accredited attorney review whether additional codes were missed.
Knee Replacement (DC 5055)
If you have had a total knee replacement, the VA rates it under DC 5055. You receive a temporary 100% rating for 12 months following surgery. After that one-year period, the minimum permanent rating is 30%. Veterans with severe chronic residuals, including significant painful motion or weakness, may qualify for a 60% rating.
The Bilateral Factor
If both knees are service-connected, the bilateral factor applies. The VA takes the combined rating of both knee conditions and adds 10% of that value before applying it to your overall combined rating.
For example: if your right knee rates at 20% and your left knee rates at 10%, those two combine to 28% using VA math. The VA then adds 2.8% (10% of 28) for the bilateral factor, bringing the bilateral subtotal to 30.8%. That number then factors into your overall combined rating.
The bilateral factor does not create a separate payment. But it can push your overall combined rating across a rounding threshold, which does affect your monthly compensation.
Use the bilateral factor calculator to see the impact on your rating.
What Happens at Your C&P Exam
Your Compensation and Pension exam is where your knee rating gets made or broken. The examiner measures how far you can bend and straighten your knee using a goniometer. They also test for instability.
Three things matter at this exam:
- Do not push through the pain. Stop where the pain becomes significant. If you force a full range of motion while gritting your teeth, the examiner records that as your functional range. That works against you.
- Report flare-ups. If your knee is worse on some days than others, say so explicitly. The VA is required to consider worst-day function, not just what they see at the exam.
- Describe what you cannot do. Tell the examiner specifically: how long you can stand before pain forces you to sit, whether you can climb stairs, whether your knee has buckled in the last month, and how far you can walk. Functional limitation matters as much as the degree measurement.
Secondary Conditions to Claim
Knee disabilities frequently cause or worsen other conditions that are separately ratable. File for these at the same time as your knee claim.
- Hip conditions. An abnormal gait from knee instability or limited motion places extra stress on the hip joint. Hip conditions rate under limitation of motion codes and can add 10% to 40% to your combined rating.
- Lumbar spine (DC 5237). Altered walking mechanics from a bad knee frequently cause or aggravate lower back conditions. If you have back pain and a service-connected knee, the connection is worth documenting.
- Ankle conditions (DC 5271). Changed gait patterns from knee instability can affect the ankle joint. Rated 10% to 20% for limited motion.
- Contralateral knee. Veterans often compensate by overloading the good knee. If your other knee has developed problems, a secondary service connection claim may be appropriate.
Is Your Knee Rating Accurate?
The VA only rates what is in the record. If your C&P examiner did not test for instability, it will not appear in your rating decision. If both your knee codes were not applied, you may have a legitimate basis for a supplemental claim or appeal.
A VA-accredited attorney can review your rating decision at no cost to you. VA attorneys work on contingency, meaning they are only paid if they win your case.