YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee Flexion) VA Disability Rating
The VA rates Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) under diagnostic code 5260, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Prepare for your examTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee)
Loss of knee flexion makes it difficult to squat, sit, or use stairs.
This code is rated on one measured angle — how far the knee will bend. Flexion limited to 60° rates 0 percent, 45° rates 10 percent, 30° rates 20 percent and 15° rates 30 percent. The measurement is taken with a goniometer during a Compensation & Pension or orthopedic exam and has to be an active, reproducible limitation. Limitation of extension of the same knee is a separate code (DC 5261) with its own scale.
- Diagnostic code
- 5260
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) VA rating criteria (DC 5260)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
Every knee code on one page, each one's criteria quotedBUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
A LITTLE PREPARATION HELPS
What the C&P examiner will ask about Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee)
Think through your own experience before exam day. Open a question to see what the examiner is assessing and which details are useful to describe accurately.
SeverityWhen you bend your knee as far as it will go, how far does it bend?
Measuring knee flexion range of motion - normal is 0-140 degrees. Key rating thresholds at 30°, 45°, and 60°.
- Practice bending your knee before the exam to know your actual range
- Don't push through severe pain just to show more movement
- Mention if range varies depending on time of day or weather
- Note if your knee 'catches' or 'locks' during movement
- Trying too hard to show more movement than you typically have
- Not mentioning pain levels during range of motion testing
- Forgetting to mention if movement gets worse throughout the day
SeverityHow does your knee condition affect your ability to work or perform job duties?
Assessing vocational impact and work-related functional limitations.
- Describe specific job duties that are difficult or impossible
- Mention accommodations you need or have requested
- Note if you've had to change jobs due to your knee condition
- Describe how many hours you can stand, walk, or climb stairs
- Not connecting knee problems to specific work limitations
- Failing to mention job accommodations or modifications needed
- Not describing how condition affects job performance over full workday
SeverityDo you experience knee instability, buckling, or giving way?
Evaluating knee instability which can significantly increase rating percentage.
- Describe specific situations when your knee gives out
- Mention if you use a brace, cane, or other support devices
- Note if instability has caused falls or near-falls
- Describe your confidence level when walking on uneven surfaces
- Not mentioning instability symptoms, focusing only on pain
- Failing to describe impact on activities and confidence
- Not noting use of supportive devices or braces
Daily functionHow far can you walk on level ground before needing to stop due to knee pain or limitations?
Assessing functional walking capacity and pain limitations for rating determination.
- Be specific about distances - blocks, miles, time walking
- Describe what happens when you push through (increased pain, swelling)
- Mention if you need breaks, supports, or avoid certain activities
- Describe pain levels during and after walking
- Not mentioning how weather affects your knee
- Focusing only on best days instead of typical or worst days
- Not describing the specific type of pain or limitation
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee)?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
THE EVERYDAY PICTURE
What the Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) examination has to record
The criteria above are read off an examination, and three sections of Part 4 govern what that examination has to contain. None of them is a diagnostic code, so none of them appears in the 5260 table, and all three apply to it. 38 CFR § 4.40: “Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled.”
38 CFR § 4.45 lists what an examination of a joint is directed to consider:
- Less movement than normal (due to ankylosis, limitation or blocking, adhesions, tendon-tie-up, contracted scars, etc.).
- More movement than normal (from flail joint, resections, nonunion of fracture, relaxation of ligaments, etc.).
- Weakened movement (due to muscle injury, disease or injury of peripheral nerves, divided or lengthened tendons, etc.).
- Excess fatigability.
- Incoordination, impaired ability to execute skilled movements smoothly.
- Pain on movement, swelling, deformity or atrophy of disuse.
38 CFR § 4.59: “It is the intention to recognize actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint.” So a joint that is painful on use is not a finding of nothing, even where the measured motion is close to normal.
The same section says how the joint is to be tested: “The joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint.” An examination that records one measurement, taken once, sitting down, has not done what the section asks, and that is worth reading the exam report for.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Use goniometer readings from VA or private provider
- 02
Include video/photo of functional impact if possible
- 03
Describe stair difficulty, walking limits
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind3 tips
- 01
ROM measured after exercise instead of cold start
- 02
No pain reported during flexion exam
- 03
Only subjective description without measured limitation
Common filing mistakes3 tips
- 01
No ROM data from C&P
- 02
Only mentioning pain without measurements
- 03
Claiming without imaging or treatment records
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
Common after trauma, surgery, or arthritis
- 02
Flexion loss can worsen over time
THE BROADER PICTURE
Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High – commonly awarded with measurable flexion limits.
- Service-connected disabilities (VBA count)
- 2,312,985 disabilities
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
Count of service-connected disabilities from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), as of September 30, 2025; the report counts disabilities, not veterans. Approval outlook and typical rating are Vetrify editorial estimates, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee)
Is Limited Knee Flexion a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) under VASRD diagnostic code 5260 (Musculoskeletal System). Loss of knee flexion makes it difficult to squat, sit, or use stairs.
What VA disability rating can I get for Limited Knee Flexion?
Possible VA ratings for Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) are 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 30%: Flexion of the leg limited to 15°; 20%: Flexion of the leg limited to 30°; 10%: Flexion of the leg limited to 45°.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Limited Knee Flexion?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), veterans receiving VA compensation as of September 30, 2025 had 2,312,985 service-connected disabilities rated as Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee). The report counts disabilities, not veterans. Estimated approval outlook: High – commonly awarded with measurable flexion limits.
What evidence helps prove Limited Knee Flexion for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) claim includes: VA goniometer exam showing flexion limits; Orthopedic evaluations or PT progress reports; X-rays or MRI if degeneration is involved.
Which DBQ is used for Limited Knee Flexion?
VA's Knee and Lower Leg Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Limited Knee Flexion?
Common pitfalls when filing for Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee): No ROM data from C&P; Only mentioning pain without measurements; Claiming without imaging or treatment records.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5260)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.40, functional loss
- 38 CFR § 4.45, the joints
- 38 CFR § 4.59, painful motion
- VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), service-connected disabilities count, as of September 30, 2025
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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