Leg, Knee and Ankle:

To qualify for VA disability benefits, veterans must establish a service connection between their current leg, knee, or ankle condition and their military service. This means providing evidence that the condition was caused or aggravated by their service in the military. There are various leg, knee, and ankle conditions for which veterans may receive disability benefits. Common leg, knee, and ankle injuries among veterans can vary depending on their military service, occupational roles, and experiences. Some of the typical injuries that veterans may experience and subsequently seek VA disability benefits for include:

Knee Injuries:

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears

  • Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tears

  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) tears

  • Meniscal tears

  • Patellar tendonitis

  • Patellar fractures

  • Osteoarthritis of the knee

  • Patellofemoral syndrome

Ankle Injuries:

  • Ankle sprains (lateral, medial, high)

  • Achilles tendonitis

  • Achilles tendon ruptures

  • Ankle fractures (fibula, tibia, talus)

  • Syndesmotic injuries (high ankle sprains)

  • Posterior tibial tendonitis

  • Osteoarthritis of the ankle

Lower Limb Amputations:

  • Traumatic amputations (resulting from combat, accidents, or injuries)

  • Surgical amputations due to injury complications or medical conditions

Chronic Pain Syndromes:

  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

  • Phantom limb pain (for amputees)

  • Neuropathic pain

  • Non-specific chronic pain in the leg, knee, or ankle region

Muscle Injuries and Strains:

  • Quadriceps strains

  • Hamstring strains

  • Calf strains

  • Shin splints

  • Groin strains

Degenerative Joint Diseases:

  • Osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, or ankle

  • Rheumatoid arthritis affecting the lower extremities

Nerve Damage:

  • Peripheral neuropathy affecting the lower limbs

  • Sciatic nerve injuries

  • Common peroneal nerve injuries

Fractures and Traumatic Injuries:

  • Stress fractures of the lower limb bones

  • Tibia and fibula fractures

  • Femur fractures

  • Calcaneus fractures

  • Talus fractures

The severity of the leg, knee, or ankle condition is evaluated by the VA and assigned a disability rating based on the extent of impairment and its impact on the veteran's ability to function. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings corresponding to more severe impairment and higher levels of compensation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilizes the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) to evaluate disabilities and assign disability ratings for veterans applying for disability benefits. The VASRD provides a framework for evaluating the severity of various disabilities, including those affecting the legs, knees, and ankles. The VA considers medical evidence, including diagnostic tests, imaging studies, treatment records, and medical opinions from healthcare providers, when evaluating leg, knee, and ankle injuries. When it comes to evaluating leg, knee, and ankle injuries, the VA considers factors such as range of motion, instability, pain, weakness, and functional impairment. The specific disability ratings assigned to these conditions depend on the severity of the impairment and its impact on the veteran's ability to perform activities of daily living. Factors the VA considers when evaluating leg, knee, and ankle injuries:

  • Range of Motion: The VA may measure the range of motion of the affected joint (such as the knee or ankle) to assess the severity of the disability. Limitations in range of motion due to pain, stiffness, or other factors may result in a higher disability rating.

  • Instability: Instability in the knee or ankle joint, such as recurrent dislocations or giving way, may be evaluated to determine the severity of the disability.

  • Pain: Chronic pain associated with leg, knee, or ankle injuries is often considered in the disability evaluation process. The severity and frequency of pain, as well as its impact on daily activities, may influence the disability rating.

  • Functional Impairment: The VA assesses how leg, knee, or ankle injuries affect the veteran's ability to perform various activities, including walking, standing, climbing stairs, and engaging in physical work or recreational activities.

Knee Pain:

Knee pain is a common complaint that affects veterans of all ages. Limitation of Flexion of the Knee is the #2 most common VA disability claim, 1,853,161 disabled veterans suffer from service connected knee pain. The VA rates knee conditions under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, DC 5257, Knee Impairment. VA Rating for Limitation of Flexion of the Knee range from 0% to 30% with interim breaks at 10% and 20%. The highest rating for limitation of flexion of the knee is 30%, which includes the following symptoms: Recurrent subluxation or instability: Unrepaired or failed repair of complete ligament tear causing persistent instability, and a medical provider prescribes both an assistive device (e.g., cane(s), crutch(es), walker) and bracing for ambulation. In accordance with the “Painful Motion” principle, if you have pain upon flexion or extension of your knee, the VA is required to award the minimum compensable rating for the condition, which is 10%.

What are the VA disability ratings for Knee Pain?

If you have unfavorable ankylosis of the knee, it’s rated under DC 5256 instead, which has ratings of 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% depending on the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms to include limitation of range of motion:

  • Extremely unfavorable knee ankylosis, with limitation of flexion at an angle of 45° or more is rated at 60%

  • Unfavorable knee ankylosis with limitation of flexion between 20° and 45° is rated at 50%

  • Knee ankylosis with limitation of flexion between 10° and 20° is rated at 40%

  • Favorable angle in full extension, or in slight flexion between 0° and 10° is rated at 30%