Knee injuries are among the most common service-connected disabilities in veterans. The physical demands of military service—running, jumping, heavy load carrying, and combat-related trauma—frequently cause knee injuries affecting veterans. Many veterans develop chronic knee pain, limited mobility, and functional impairment from service-related knee injuries. Some veterans’ knee injuries progress to arthritis or other degenerative conditions in the knee affecting the veteran. Yet many veterans don’t realize they can file for VA disability benefits for knee injuries or don’t understand how the VA rates knee disability in veterans. This comprehensive article explains how veterans develop service-connected knee injuries, how veterans can file disability claims for knee damage, what disability ratings veterans with knee injuries receive, and how veterans can maximize compensation for knee injury disabilities.

How Veterans Develop Service-Connected Knee Injuries

Veterans develop knee injuries through various service-related pathways:

Training and Physical Demands: The physical demands of military training create significant stress on the veteran’s knees. Basic training involves running, jumping, and load-bearing exercises stressing the veteran’s knee joints. Throughout a veteran’s military career, repetitive physical demands continue stressing the veteran’s knees, leading to knee injury in the veteran.

Load Carrying: Many veterans carried heavy loads during service—60 to 100+ pound packs on long marches. This repetitive heavy load places enormous stress on the veteran’s knees, causing acute injury or gradual wear-and-tear damage to the veteran’s knee joints.

Specific Incidents: Veterans often sustained acute knee injuries from specific incidents during military service. A veteran might injure the veteran’s knee in a fall during a training exercise, during a vehicle accident, or from combat-related trauma affecting the veteran’s knee.

Running and Movement: Combat operations and training require extensive running and movement, placing repetitive stress on the veteran’s knees. Veterans who ran extensive distances during service frequently developed knee injuries affecting the veteran.

Environmental Factors: Veterans stationed in cold, wet climates experienced conditions that exacerbate knee problems in veterans. Additionally, some operational environments in desert regions involved uneven terrain increasing knee injury risk in the veteran.

Types of Knee Injuries in Veterans

Veterans experience various knee injuries and conditions qualifying for disability benefits:

Meniscus Tears: Meniscal injuries in veterans involve the cartilage pads in the veteran’s knee. These injuries cause pain, instability, and swelling in the veteran’s knee, significantly affecting the veteran’s ability to walk and perform activities.

ACL Injuries: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in veterans cause instability and functional limitation in the veteran’s knee. Many veterans with ACL injuries develop secondary knee problems as the veteran compensates for the veteran’s injury.

Patellar Problems: Some veterans develop patellar tracking disorders, patellar tendonitis, or other patella-related conditions affecting the veteran’s knee function. These conditions cause pain and dysfunction in the veteran’s knee.

Knee Ligament Injuries: Beyond ACL injuries, veterans sustain injuries to other knee ligaments (MCL, PCL, LCL) causing instability and pain in the veteran’s knee affecting the veteran.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis: Veterans who sustained knee injuries during service frequently develop post-traumatic arthritis in the injured knee. The joint damage from the veteran’s original injury predisposes the veteran’s knee to early-onset arthritis.

Chronic Knee Pain Syndrome: Some veterans develop chronic knee pain without clear structural damage. The veteran’s knee causes persistent pain affecting the veteran’s functioning despite normal imaging findings in the veteran’s knee.

Service Connection for Veterans with Knee Injuries

Veterans can establish service connection for knee injuries through several pathways:

Direct Service Connection: Veterans can establish direct service connection by showing that knee injury resulted from a specific incident or occupational stress during military service. A veteran injured in combat or during training can establish service connection for the veteran’s knee injury through incident documentation.

Presumptive Service Connection: While not all knee injuries are presumptive, some veterans qualify for presumptive benefits. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange may have presumptive conditions potentially affecting the veteran. Veterans may qualify for presumptive benefits through other exposure-related programs affecting the veteran’s knee.

Secondary Service Connection: Veterans often develop knee problems secondary to other service-connected conditions. A veteran with service-connected back injury might develop knee problems from altered gait affecting the veteran’s knee. A veteran with hip injury might develop knee problems as the veteran compensates for the veteran’s injury affecting the veteran’s knee.

Disability Ratings for Veterans with Knee Injuries

The VA rates knee injuries in veterans based on specific clinical findings and functional limitations affecting the veteran. The VA considers several factors when rating knee injuries in veterans:

Range of Motion: The VA examines the veteran’s knee range of motion. Veterans with severely limited knee motion receive higher ratings. A veteran with a knee that has significantly restricted bending receives a higher rating than a veteran with normal range of motion.

Stability: The VA assesses whether the veteran’s knee is stable or unstable. A veteran with an unstable knee receives higher ratings than a veteran whose knee is stable.

Pain and Symptoms: The VA considers pain severity and symptoms affecting the veteran. Medical records documenting the veteran’s knee pain support higher ratings for the veteran’s injury.

Functional Limitations: The VA evaluates how the knee injury affects the veteran’s ability to walk, climb stairs, stand, or perform occupational tasks. Veterans whose knee injury significantly limits functional capacity receive higher ratings.

Imaging Findings: X-rays, MRI, and other imaging showing structural damage to the veteran’s knee support disability ratings. Damage to cartilage, ligaments, or bone in the veteran’s knee warrants higher ratings.

Need for Surgery: Veterans requiring knee surgery or replacement due to the veteran’s injury may qualify for higher ratings reflecting the veteran’s surgical needs.

VA Disability Ratings for Veterans with Knee Injuries

The VA rates knee injuries in veterans using specific rating schedules. Most knee injuries in veterans receive ratings between 0% and 50%, though severe cases may receive higher ratings.

0-10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have mild knee damage or pain with minimal functional impairment. The veteran may have occasional knee swelling or pain but it doesn’t substantially limit the veteran’s occupational or daily functioning.

20% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 20% for knee injury have mild to moderate knee damage. The veteran’s knee pain affects the veteran’s activities and the veteran may have some limitation in walking or standing but can still perform most occupational duties.

30% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have moderate knee injury with noticeable functional limitation. The veteran’s knee substantially limits the veteran’s occupational capacity and the veteran experiences significant pain with activity affecting the veteran’s functioning.

40% Rating for Veterans: Veterans with a 40% rating for knee injury have significant knee damage with substantial functional limitation. The veteran’s knee substantially limits the veteran’s ability to walk, stand, or perform occupational tasks affecting the veteran.

50% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 50% for knee injury have severe knee damage with marked functional impairment. The veteran’s knee severely limits the veteran’s occupational capacity and the veteran has significant difficulty with mobility affecting the veteran.

Higher Ratings for Veterans: Veterans with extremely severe knee injuries requiring extensive medical treatment or preventing all meaningful activity may receive ratings above 50%.

Filing for Knee Injury Disability Benefits as a Veteran

To file for VA disability benefits for knee injuries, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating knee injury as the claimed condition.

Veterans filing for knee injuries should include:

• Medical records documenting the veteran’s knee injury diagnosis
• Surgical records if the veteran had knee surgery related to the veteran’s injury
• X-rays, MRI, or other imaging showing knee damage affecting the veteran
• Documentation of knee treatments received by the veteran
• Information about when and how the veteran injured the veteran’s knee during service
• Documentation of the veteran’s functional limitations caused by the veteran’s knee injury
• A personal statement from the veteran describing how the veteran’s knee injury affects the veteran’s daily functioning and work

Veterans should clearly explain how the veteran believes the veteran’s knee injury is service-connected—whether from a specific incident during the veteran’s service or from cumulative stress during the veteran’s military career.

The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with Knee Injuries

When veterans file for knee injury disability, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:

• Perform a thorough knee examination on the veteran, testing the veteran’s range of motion
• Assess stability of the veteran’s knee
• Review imaging studies and medical records documenting the veteran’s knee damage
• Ask the veteran detailed questions about the veteran’s knee pain and functional limitations
• Document the veteran’s occupational and daily functioning affected by the veteran’s knee injury
• Assess the veteran’s ability to walk, stand, climb stairs, or perform other activities requiring knee function

Veterans should prepare for the veteran’s exam by wearing clothing allowing easy access to the knee. Veterans should be prepared to demonstrate functional limitations in the veteran’s knee and describe honestly how the veteran’s knee affects the veteran’s work and daily life.

Secondary Conditions in Veterans with Knee Injuries

Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their knee injuries:

Back Pain: Veterans with knee injuries often develop back pain from altered gait and movement patterns affecting the veteran’s back. Secondary back pain in veterans from knee injury affects the veteran and qualifies for separate disability rating.

Hip Pain: Knee injury may cause compensatory stress on the veteran’s hip. Secondary hip problems in veterans can receive separate disability rating.

Depression: Veterans with chronic knee pain and functional limitation may develop depression. Secondary depression in veterans from chronic knee injury qualifies for separate rating.

Anxiety: Some veterans develop anxiety related to mobility limitations caused by the veteran’s knee injury. Secondary anxiety in veterans can be rated separately.

Sleep Disorders: Veterans whose knee pain disrupts the veteran’s sleep may develop sleep disorders. Secondary sleep problems in veterans can receive separate disability ratings.

These secondary conditions increase the veteran’s combined disability rating, potentially significantly increasing the veteran’s total compensation.

Combining Knee Injuries with Other Veteran Disabilities

Many veterans have knee injuries combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 40% rating for knee injury and a 30% rating for back pain, plus other disabilities affecting the veteran.

All conditions in veterans combine using the VA’s combined rating formula to determine the veteran’s total disability rating. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand exactly how your knee injury rating combines with your other service-connected conditions as a veteran. The calculator shows veterans their total combined rating and monthly compensation.

Rating Increases for Veterans with Worsening Knee Injuries

Veterans whose knee injuries worsen over time should file for rating increases. Many veterans experience progressive knee damage as they age, developing arthritis or other degenerative changes in the veteran’s knee.

Veterans should file for rating increases when:

• The veteran’s knee pain becomes worse or more frequent
• The veteran’s knee develops new symptoms or complications
• The veteran’s knee requires surgery or more intensive treatment
• The veteran’s functional limitations from the veteran’s knee have increased
• Imaging shows progression of damage in the veteran’s knee

When filing for a rating increase, veterans should submit updated medical evidence showing the veteran’s worsened knee condition and current functional impact.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to see how a knee injury rating increase would affect your combined rating and total compensation as a veteran.

Understanding Your Knee Injury Disability Compensation

A veteran’s knee injury disability compensation depends on the veteran’s knee injury rating and any other service-connected conditions the veteran has. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to determine:

• Your combined rating including knee injury and other disabilities
• Your monthly compensation based on your disability ratings
• How a knee injury rating increase would affect your total compensation
• How knee injuries combine with other service-connected conditions affecting the veteran

The calculator helps veterans understand their total compensation when knee injuries combine with other disabilities.

Knee Treatment and Management for Veterans

Veterans with service-connected knee injuries should establish regular care with VA orthopedic specialists or primary care providers knowledgeable about knee conditions. The VA offers veterans:

• Orthopedic evaluation and management for knee injuries affecting the veteran
• Physical therapy to improve the veteran’s knee function and reduce pain
• Medication management for pain and inflammation in the veteran’s knee
• Knee injections (steroid or other treatments) for some veterans’ knee conditions
• Surgical options including arthroscopic surgery or knee replacement for appropriate veterans

Veterans should maintain regular VA care both for treatment and to create medical documentation supporting disability ratings and potential rating increase claims.

Occupational Considerations for Veterans with Knee Injuries

The VA recognizes that significant knee injuries substantially affect occupational capacity in veterans. Veterans whose knee injuries prevent them from performing their previous occupation may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services or Individual Unemployability.

Veterans with substantial knee injuries limiting occupational capacity should consider filing for Individual Unemployability (IU). IU provides 100% disability compensation based on occupational inability rather than rating percentage alone.

Appealing Denied Knee Injury Claims for Veterans

If the VA denies a veteran’s knee injury claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:

• Submitting additional medical evidence documenting the veteran’s knee damage
• Obtaining detailed orthopedic statements from healthcare providers supporting the veteran’s knee disability claim
• Working with a VA-accredited representative who understands knee injury claims
• Providing detailed functional limitation descriptions in appeals
• Filing additional rating increase claims as the veteran’s condition progresses

Don’t accept a denied knee injury claim without appeal—many veterans successfully obtain knee injury disability benefits through persistent appeals.

Conclusion

Knee injuries are service-connected disabilities affecting many veterans, significantly impacting the veteran’s ability to work and maintain mobility. Veterans who injured the veteran’s knee during military service, from combat-related trauma, or from service-related physical demands deserve disability compensation. If you’re a veteran with a knee injury, file a disability claim documenting your condition and how the veteran’s knee injury affects your functioning. File for secondary conditions caused by your knee injury. Maintain regular VA orthopedic care and document your knee pain and functional limitations. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand your combined rating and total compensation when knee injuries combine with other veteran disabilities. As a veteran with service-connected knee injury, you deserve disability benefits recognizing your condition and compensating you for the functional impact on your veteran life.