Va Disability Rating For Bad Knees

For example a veteran can be entitled to multiple disability ratings for a knee condition if they experience instability in addition to limitation of motion.

Va disability rating for bad knees. Meaning that if you are significantly limited in your ability to bend at the waist you might qualify for the 20 percent rating. If the cartilage frequently dislocates causing pain swelling and locking in the knee it receives a 20 percent rating. According to the VA flexibility must be fairly limited to even get a 20 percent disability rating. When they leave the service they apply for disability compensation for their knee problems through the VA only to find their debilitating condition rated at 10 percent or lower.

Diagnostic Code 5259 If the cartilage is removed and there is pain or other symptoms in the knee the condition is rated as 10 percent disabling. After that year has lapsed veterans will require additional tests for knee flexion extension and instability. 50 in flexion between 20 and 45 degrees. This will be determined on whether there is forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees.

VA assigns a 0 10 20 or 30 percent disability rating for this knee pain condition based on the amount of instability present in the knee. Degenerative arthritis with X-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints or two or more minor joint groups with occasional incapacitating exacerbations. These 40 and 60 ratings related only to the point of amputation. The VA rating for knee amputations is either 40 if there still some knee function or 60 if the knee is removed or unusable.

Knee and Lower Leg Overview. In contrast pyramiding is a practice prohibited by VA and refers to when a veteran has two disability ratings for a single manifestation of their disability. Combined knee injury disability rating and the rule against pyramiding the VA frequently will raise only one condition and not address all the conditions raised by the veteran. If you suffer from Phantom Limb Pain PLP you may try to get a higher rating.

For example if a veteran has a full range of motion of his knee but has weakness of movement that begins at 45 degrees flexion he should be awarded a 10 percent rating under DC 5260. Even if your knee pain has NO impact on the knees range of motion you can get the minimum 10 VA disability rating for knee pain alone when accompanied with a diagnosis pain alone is a disability but it must relate to a functional impairment of earning capacity. The only time a temporary rating for knee pain is given is when a total knee replacement is performed. The VA is supposed to rate a knee disability under DC 5260 and 5261 where functional loss begins.

Due to the high psychical demands of military service many veterans experience knee injuries or dysfunction. For example if the veteran has limitation of motion knee instability as well as surgery for removal of the meniscus the VA will simply choose one of the three often. In order to get the highest evaluation the knee must be so unstable that it gives out or dislocates on a regular basis. Abnormal stiffening and immobility of the knee can be assigned a 30 40 50 or 60 percent disability rating depending on the limitation of flexion.

The rating criteria is as follows. 60 extremely unfavorable in flexion at an angle of 45 degrees or more. After total knee replacement surgery there is an automatic 100 disability rating for one year. Pain like functional loss is measured by its impact on the range of motion.