Rating guide · Joints
Knees: One Joint, Several Possible Ratings
Knees take a beating from jumps, rucks, ladders and years on concrete. The VA can rate a single knee for how far it bends, how far it straightens, and whether it gives out, as long as each rating covers different problems.
- Bending & straightening
- Brace & cane rules
- Meniscus damage
- Knee replacement
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What the Examiner Measures
A healthy knee straightens to 0 degrees and bends to about 140. The examiner measures both, notes where pain begins, and tests for instability. The examiner should also estimate how much more motion you lose during flare-ups or after repeated use.
If both knees are service-connected, the VA adds a bilateral factor to your combined rating.
Limited Bending (Flexion)
Limited Straightening (Extension)
Instability Under the Current Rules
Instability ratings now depend on the type of ligament injury and whether a medical provider prescribed a brace or an assistive device. If your knee gives out and you use a brace, make sure the prescription is in your records.
Meniscus Damage and Knee Replacement
- Meniscus that locks, hurts and swells: 20%. Removed and still symptomatic: 10%.
- Total knee replacement: 100% for 4 months after surgery ($3,938.58 a month alone in 2026), then at least 30%, or 60% with severe painful motion or weakness.
If you’re scheduling a replacement on a service-connected knee, tell the VA the surgery date so the temporary 100% is applied.
A bad knee changes how you walk, which can wear on your other knee, hips and back. Those can be claimed as secondary conditions.
Knee VA Rating: Common Questions
How many ratings can one knee get?
Potentially several. Limited flexion, limited extension and instability are separate problems, so each can be rated when the evidence supports it, as long as the same symptoms aren’t counted twice.
Why does a brace prescription matter?
Under the current instability criteria, the 20% and 30% levels depend on a provider prescribing a brace and/or an assistive device. Without one, persistent instability is rated 10%.
What happens after a knee replacement?
A service-connected total knee replacement is rated 100% for 4 months, then at least 30%, or 60% with severe painful motion or weakness.
Does arthritis in my knee count?
Yes. Arthritis confirmed by X-ray is generally rated on limitation of motion, and painful motion can support at least the minimum compensable rating.
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