Rating guide · Joints
Knee Ratings: More Than One Way to Count
Years of PT runs, field duty, ladders and hatches add up. The VA looks at a damaged knee from several angles, and a single knee can earn more than one rating when the symptoms are distinct.
- Flexion limits
- Extension limits
- Instability & bracing
- Meniscus & replacement
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How Far the Knee Bends (Flexion)
A healthy knee flexes to roughly 140 degrees. Your examiner should record the point where pain starts and give an estimate of how much more motion you lose during flare-ups or after repeated use.
How Straight the Knee Gets (Extension)
Giving Way (Instability)
Under the 2025 rules, instability ratings depend on what kind of ligament damage you have and whether a provider prescribed a brace, a cane or another walking aid. If you were given one at the Quad Cities VA Clinic in Davenport or by a private doctor, check that the prescription is in your chart.
Torn Cartilage, New Knees and Knock-On Effects
- Torn meniscus with frequent locking, pain and fluid in the joint: 20%. Meniscus removed with lingering symptoms: 10%.
- Total knee replacement: a temporary 100% for four months after the operation ($3,938.58 monthly for a single veteran in 2026), followed by a 30% floor, or 60% when severe painful motion or weakness remains.
Two service-connected knees also trigger the bilateral factor, a small bonus added in the combined rating math. A limp from a bad knee can strain the hips and lower back over time, and those problems may be claimed as secondary conditions.
Knee VA Rating: Common Questions
Is it possible to have three ratings on the same knee?
Yes, when the evidence shows separate problems. Restricted bending, restricted straightening and instability each describe a different symptom, so each can be rated.
Do I need a brace for a higher instability rating?
Under the current rules, the 20% and 30% instability levels require a prescribed brace or assistive device. Persistent instability without that prescription is rated 10%.
I’m scheduled for a knee replacement. What should I know?
Let the VA know the surgery date. A service-connected total knee replacement is rated 100% for four months, then no lower than 30%, or 60% with severe residuals.
Can my knee injury support a hip or back claim?
Often, yes. When a knee changes the way you walk, resulting hip or back conditions can be claimed as secondary to the service-connected knee.
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