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Knee Condition (Secondary) VA Disability Rating is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5256-5263 of 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a across 3 severity tiers (40%+ -- Severe limitation or ankylosis / 20% -- Moderate limitation / 10% -- Mild limitation or painful motion). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
Secondary knee conditions develop from altered gait due to service-connected opposite knee, hip, ankle, or lumbar spine conditions. Compensatory weight-bearing and movement patterns cause accelerated joint degeneration. Medical nexus should address biomechanical causation.
Knee Condition (Secondary) (DC 5256-5263) is evaluated under 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a using the musculoskeletal rating framework. Because it is rated by analogy to the general schedule, the 3 levels below describe the body-system criteria the VA applies — the percentage assigned to Knee Condition (Secondary) depends on the specific findings (range of motion, frequency, severity, or functional loss) documented at the C&P exam and in the medical record.
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.