Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5257
Knee, Other Impairment of Secondary to Weak Foot
A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Knee, Other Impairment of when it develops after Weak Foot.
Why Knee, Other Impairment of Is Linked to Weak Foot
Altered gait
Primary condition · VASRD 5277
Weak Foot
DC 5277 covers bilateral weak foot — muscle atrophy, disturbed circulation and weakness in both feet arising from an underlying constitutional condition. It is not really a stand-alone evaluation: the schedule says to rate the underlying condition and treats 10 percent as the minimum. Identifying that underlying condition is therefore the whole claim.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5257
Knee, Other Impairment of
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.
Knee, Other Impairment of VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Knee, Other Impairment of the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Weak Foot — severity of Knee, Other Impairment of itself determines the percentage.
| 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. |
Example combined rating
10% Weak Foot + 20% Knee, Other Impairment of = 28%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 10% and 20% combine to 28%, not 30%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
Email me this Knee, Other Impairment of secondary guide
Get the rating criteria for Knee, Other Impairment of, the evidence a secondary claim needs, and why it is linked to Weak Foot — delivered to your inbox.
Evidence for a Knee, Other Impairment of Secondary Claim
- •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.
Common questions about Knee, Other Impairment of secondary to Weak Foot
- Can Knee, Other Impairment of be service-connected as secondary to Weak Foot?
- Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Altered gait You'll need a current Knee, Other Impairment of diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Weak Foot — the same standa…
- What VA rating can I get for Knee, Other Impairment of as a secondary condition?
- Knee, Other Impairment of is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5257 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 30%, 20%, 10%. The rating depends on the severity of Knee, Other Impairment of itself, not on the severity of Weak Foot.
- How does a secondary Knee, Other Impairment of claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 10% rating for Weak Foot combined with a 20% rating for Knee, Other Impairment of (example figures) produces a combined rating of 28%, not 30%. Approving Knee, Other Impairment of as secondary still typically raises your…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Knee, Other Impairment of as secondary to Weak Foot?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Knee, Other Impairment of diagnosis 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 no…
Primary condition
Full Weak Foot guide
Secondary condition
Full Knee, Other Impairment of guide
Estimate your combined rating
See how Weak Foot and Knee, Other Impairment of combine with the rest of your 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