VASRD 5257 · Musculoskeletal System
Knee, Other Impairment of VA Disability Rating
This diagnostic code covers knee instability — the knee buckling, giving out, or shifting out of place — separately from pain or arthritis. Since the 2021 rewrite it rates two named things: recurrent subluxation or instability after a ligament sprain or tear, and instability of the kneecap (the patellofemoral complex) after surgical repair. The tier you land on depends less on how bad the instability feels than on what a medical provider has prescribed for it — a brace, a walking aid, both, or neither.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 30% | The knee is unstable after a complete ligament tear that was not repaired or whose repair failed, and a provider has prescribed both a brace and a walking aid — or the kneecap is still unstable after surgery and needs both a brace and a cane or walker. |
| 20% | The knee is persistently unstable and a provider has prescribed a brace or a walking aid — one or the other, depending on whether the ligament tear was complete and whether it was repaired. |
| 10% | The knee is persistently unstable, but no provider has prescribed a brace or a walking aid for it. |
How the VA Evaluates Knee, Other Impairment of
The evaluation is built on three facts, all of which have to be in the medical record. First, persistent instability has to be established — a sprain, an incomplete ligament tear, or a complete tear that was repaired, unrepaired, or whose repair failed; or, on the patellar route, a diagnosed condition of the patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability. Second, whether a complete tear was repaired and whether that repair held, because an unrepaired or failed repair reaches a tier higher on the same prescription. Third, and decisively, what a medical provider has prescribed for ambulation: nothing (10 percent), one of bracing or an assistive device (20 percent), or both a brace and an assistive device (30 percent). Note (2) to the code adds that a surgical procedure which does not repair a patellofemoral component contributing to the instability — arthroscopy to remove loose bodies, or joint aspiration, for example — does not count as surgical repair for the patellar-instability route.
Approval outlook
High – especially when tied to prior knee injuries or arthritis.
Veterans service-connected
556,186 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~20%
Veterans service-connected count from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), as of September 30, 2025. Approval outlook and typical rating are Vetrify editorial estimates — not official VA statistics.
Email me this Knee, Other Impairment of guide
Get the Knee, Other Impairment of rating criteria, evidence checklist, and strategy tips delivered to your inbox so you can review them anytime.
Best Evidence to Gather
- •The prescription itself — the note or order from a medical provider prescribing a brace, cane, crutches, or a walker for walking. Since 2021 this is the single fact that separates the three tiers, and buying a brace over the counter is not the same thing.
- •An orthopedic evaluation documenting persistent instability with stability testing (Lachman, anterior drawer, pivot shift), and stating whether a ligament tear is complete or incomplete.
- •Operative reports where a ligament or the patellofemoral complex was repaired, plus follow-up notes on whether the repair held — a failed repair rates higher than a successful one on the same prescription.
Strategy Tips
- •Ask your provider to write the brace or assistive device as a prescription and to state that it is for ambulation, because that phrasing is what the criteria are keyed to.
- •Make sure the record says whether the ligament tear is complete or incomplete and whether any repair failed, since an unrepaired or failed repair reaches 20 or 30 percent on a prescription that would otherwise support less.
- •Keep the instability claim separate from a limitation-of-motion or arthritis claim on the same knee — they are different codes, and instability is what this one rates.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •An exam that records instability but says nothing about prescribed bracing or assistive devices, which leaves the examiner no basis to place the case above 10 percent.
- •Bringing a brace you bought yourself and assuming it counts — the criteria turn on a prescription by a medical provider, not on device use.
- •Describing the knee as painful rather than unstable; pain and limitation of motion are rated under other codes (5003, 5260, 5261), and this code rates instability.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Filing on the old "slight / moderate / severe" language, which the February 2021 rewrite removed — those words no longer appear anywhere in DC 5257 and there is nothing for an adjudicator to grade against them.
- •Not establishing whether the ligament tear was complete, and whether it was repaired, since the same prescription pays a different percentage depending on that answer.
- •Treating an arthroscopy that removed loose bodies or aspirated the joint as the "surgical repair" the patellar-instability criteria require — Note (2) expressly says it is not.
Onset Patterns
- •Knee instability under this code most often follows a ligament tear (such as the ACL or MCL) or a meniscus injury that wasn't fully repaired or that healed with residual laxity.
- •Instability can worsen over time with continued activity, since a joint that isn't fully stable tends to compensate poorly and place more stress on surrounding structures.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Knee, Other Impairment of. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common Among These Military Jobs
Military occupational specialties (MOS) where Knee, Other Impairment of is frequently claimed.
Common questions about Knee, Other Impairment of
- Is Knee, Other Impairment of a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Knee, Other Impairment of under VASRD diagnostic code 5257 (Musculoskeletal System). This diagnostic code covers knee instability — the knee buckling, giving out, or shifting out of place — separately from pain or arthritis. Since the 2021 rewrite it rates two named things: recurrent subluxation or i…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Knee, Other Impairment of?
- Possible VA ratings for Knee, Other Impairment of are 30%, 20%, 10%. Examples: 30%: The knee is unstable after a complete ligament tear that was not repaired or whose repair failed, and a provider has prescribed both a brace and a walking aid — or the kneecap is still unstable after surgery and needs both a brace and…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Knee, Other Impairment of?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Knee, Other Impairment of at around 20%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), 556,186 veterans were receiving VA compensation for Knee, Other Impairment of as of September 30, 2025. Estimated approval outlook: Hig…
- What evidence helps prove Knee, Other Impairment of for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Knee, Other Impairment of claim includes: The prescription itself — the note or order from a medical provider prescribing a brace, cane, crutches, or a walker for walking. Since 2021 this is the single fact that separates the three tiers, and buying a brace over the counter is not the same thing.…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Knee, Other Impairment of?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Knee, Other Impairment of: Filing on the old "slight / moderate / severe" language, which the February 2021 rewrite removed — those words no longer appear anywhere in DC 5257 and there is nothing for an adjudicator to grade against them.; Not establishing whether the ligament tear was c…
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Knee, Other Impairment of?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Knee, Other Impairment of include: Meniscus Tear, Joint Degeneration. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a — Schedule of ratings — musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5257)
- VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025) — veterans service-connected count, as of September 30, 2025
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
Estimate your combined rating
See how Knee, Other Impairment of combines with your other service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.
Open the calculator
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline