Public rules

Knee — public rules, in plain words

See the published knee lines for bending, straightening, a stuck knee, instability, and replacement, in one place.

This page shows four published knee rules in 38 CFR 4.71a: ankylosis (DC 5256), other impairment such as instability (DC 5257), limited bending (DC 5260), and limited straightening (DC 5261). It also quotes the knee replacement lines (DC 5055). Plain words follow each quote. It is education and organizing only. It is not your rating. We do not say you have a knee condition. You review the words and you submit. We do not file.

Last reviewed 2026-10-16.

The knee lines below match 38 CFR 4.71a, diagnostic codes 5256, 5257, 5260, 5261, and 5055, on eCFR. Current text checked October 16, 2026. The 20 percent instability line is one line with parts (a) and (b). Not medical advice.

What we help you do

We help you review your documents against the published rating criteria. Rating criteria are the public rules VA published. This is education and organizing. It is not a promise of a rating. We do not decide the claim.

Official sources

Why the papers have to say it

A VA exam is a short visit. Write how often something happens, how long it lasts, and how it stops normal life, only if that is true. If those facts are not in the papers you send, the exam may not have them. We do not write them for you.

Published levels (38 CFR 4.71a, knee codes)

CFR means the Code of Federal Regulations. DC means diagnostic code. Those are public rule numbers.

Published: DC 5260, limitation of flexion of the leg: Flexion limited to 15° — 30% in the rule book.

Flexion means bending. A straight leg is 0 degrees. Limited to 15 degrees means the knee does not bend past about 15 degrees. The other flexion lines are 20 percent at 30 degrees, 10 percent at 45 degrees, and 0 percent at 60 degrees.

Published: DC 5260: Flexion limited to 30° — 20% in the rule book.

Bending stops at 30 degrees. This is a published level, not a measurement of you.

Published: DC 5260: Flexion limited to 45° — 10% in the rule book.

Bending stops at 45 degrees.

Published: DC 5260: Flexion limited to 60° — 0% in the rule book.

Bending stops at 60 degrees. A 0 is still a published level. It is not a promise of pay.

Published: DC 5261, limitation of extension of the leg: Extension limited to 45° — 50% in the rule book.

Extension means straightening. Limited to 45 degrees means the knee stays bent and will not straighten closer than 45 degrees from straight. The other extension lines are 40 percent at 30 degrees, 30 percent at 20 degrees, 20 percent at 15 degrees, 10 percent at 10 degrees, and 0 percent at 5 degrees.

Published: DC 5261: Extension limited to 30° — 40% in the rule book.

The leg will not straighten closer than 30 degrees from straight.

Published: DC 5261: Extension limited to 20° — 30% in the rule book.

The leg will not straighten closer than 20 degrees from straight.

Published: DC 5261: Extension limited to 15° — 20% in the rule book.

The leg will not straighten closer than 15 degrees from straight.

Published: DC 5261: Extension limited to 10° — 10% in the rule book.

The leg will not straighten closer than 10 degrees from straight.

Published: DC 5261: Extension limited to 5° — 0% in the rule book.

The leg will not straighten closer than 5 degrees from straight. A 0 is a published level.

Published: DC 5256, ankylosis of the knee: Extremely unfavorable, in flexion at an angle of 45° or more — 60% in the rule book.

Ankylosis means the knee is stuck. This line is stuck bent at 45 degrees or more. The other ankylosis lines are 50 percent in flexion between 20 and 45 degrees, 40 percent between 10 and 20 degrees, and 30 percent at a favorable angle in full extension or in slight flexion between 0 and 10 degrees.

Published: DC 5256: In flexion between 20° and 45° — 50% in the rule book.

The knee is stuck bent somewhere between 20 and 45 degrees.

Published: DC 5256: In flexion between 10° and 20° — 40% in the rule book.

The knee is stuck bent somewhere between 10 and 20 degrees.

Published: DC 5256: Favorable angle in full extension, or in slight flexion between 0° and 10° — 30% in the rule book.

The knee is stuck straight, or stuck in a slight bend from 0 to 10 degrees.

Published: DC 5257, 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 — 30% in the rule book.

This 30 percent line needs a complete ligament tear that was not repaired or the repair failed, persistent instability, and a prescription for both a brace and a cane, crutch, or walker. The rule asks for the prescription. This page does not say you have it.

Published: DC 5257: One of the following: (a) Sprain, incomplete ligament tear, or repaired complete ligament tear causing persistent instability, and a medical provider prescribes a brace and/or assistive device (e.g., cane(s), crutch(es), walker) for ambulation. (b) Unrepaired or failed repair of complete ligament tear causing persistent instability, and a medical provider prescribes either an assistive device (e.g., cane(s), crutch(es), walker) or bracing for ambulation — 20% in the rule book.

The 20 percent line is “one of the following.” Part (a) is a sprain, incomplete tear, or repaired complete tear, with persistent instability, and a prescription for a brace and/or a cane, crutch, or walker. Part (b) is an unrepaired or failed complete tear with a prescription for either the device or the brace, not both. Both parts are the same 20 percent line.

Published: DC 5257: Sprain, incomplete ligament tear, or complete ligament tear (repaired, unrepaired, or failed repair) causing persistent instability, without a prescription from a medical provider for an assistive device (e.g., cane(s), crutch(es), walker) or bracing for ambulation — 10% in the rule book.

Persistent instability with no prescription for a brace or a cane, crutch, or walker.

Published: DC 5257, patellar instability: A diagnosed condition involving the patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability after surgical repair that requires a prescription by a medical provider for a brace and either a cane or a walker — 30% in the rule book.

Note (1) says the patellofemoral complex is the quadriceps tendon, the patella, and the patellar tendon. This 30 percent line needs recurrent instability after surgical repair and a prescription for a brace and either a cane or a walker.

Published: DC 5257: A diagnosed condition involving the patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability after surgical repair that requires a prescription by a medical provider for one of the following: A brace, cane, or walker — 20% in the rule book.

After surgical repair, a prescription for one of a brace, a cane, or a walker. Note (2) says a procedure that does not repair a patellofemoral part that causes the instability does not count as that surgical repair. The examples in the note include arthroscopy to remove loose bodies and joint aspiration.

Published: DC 5257: A diagnosed condition involving the patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability (with or without history of surgical repair) that does not require a prescription from a medical provider for a brace, cane, or walker — 10% in the rule book.

Recurrent patellar instability with no prescription for a brace, cane, or walker.

Published: DC 5055, knee resurfacing or replacement: For 4 months following implantation of prosthesis or resurfacing — 100% in the rule book.

This 100 percent line is a time period: 4 months after the implant or resurfacing. It is not a permanent level. The rule’s notes describe when that period starts. Read 38 CFR 4.71a for those notes.

Published: DC 5055, prosthetic replacement of the knee joint: With chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity — 60% in the rule book.

After a total knee replacement, chronic leftovers of severe painful motion or weakness. The word severe is the rule’s word. This page does not apply it to you.

Published: DC 5055: With intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion rate by analogy to diagnostic codes 5256, 5261, or 5262

This line does not print its own percent. It points to other knee codes. We do not invent a percent for it.

Published: DC 5055: Minimum evaluation, total replacement only — 30% in the rule book.

30 percent is the published minimum for a total replacement only. The note says resurfacing, after the 100 percent period, is evaluated under codes 5256 through 5262, and there is no minimum for resurfacing.

38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of ratings—musculoskeletal system (spine)

What the rule is about — only what you actually have

Range-of-motion numbers in degrees, from an exam or treatment note you already have. Bending and straightening are different codes.
For instability, the rule looks at the kind of ligament or patellar problem and whether a medical provider prescribed a brace or an assistive device. A prescription in the records is what the line names. We do not say you need one.
For a replacement or resurfacing, operative notes and the date of the procedure, when you already have them.
A statement in your own words. We do not write it.

Other conditions

These codes are separate published rules for the knee. Listing them on one page is so you can read the words. It is not advice to claim every code, and it is not a finding about your knee.

Questions if a statement leaves these out

Questions only. They do not make up a fact. They do not write the statement.

Do your records list how far the knee bends, in degrees? Copy only a number that is written down.
Do your records list how close the knee gets to straight, in degrees? Only if that number exists.
Do your records include a prescription for a brace, cane, crutch, or walker for the knee? Only if the prescription exists.
If you had a knee replacement or resurfacing, is the date in the records you already have? If not, say you do not have it.

Check your own statement against this rule

The statement review lines your own words up with the published words on this page and shows which of those words your statement speaks to and which are not mentioned yet. It asks questions. It does not add a symptom, a test result, or a date.

Common questions

What is the difference between knee flexion and extension in the rule?

Flexion (DC 5260) is bending. Extension (DC 5261) is straightening. They are different diagnostic codes with different degree lines. A number on one line is not a number on the other.

Does knee pain by itself set the percent?

The motion codes use degrees. The instability code uses the published ligament or patellar words and whether a provider prescribed a brace or an assistive device. Pain is named on the replacement residual line. This page does not turn pain into a percent.

Is this page medical advice?

No. This page shows VA's published rule in plain words. It is education and organizing only. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a rating. You review the words. You, or a free accredited representative, submit to VA.

Forms you can open

There is no knee-only form on VA’s additional-forms page. The disability application is VA Form 21-526EZ. You fill it out and send it. We do not send it.

Application for disability benefits

VA Form 21-526EZ. Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.

There is no separate form for this condition. This is the disability application. You fill it out and send it to VA. We do not send it.

You fill this out and send it to VA. We do not fill it in with your records. We do not send it. We do not make a packet that is ready to file.

Signed in? The forms list only helps you keep track. It does not fill a form. It does not send it.