Knee Replacement (Prosthesis or Resurfacing)
Knee replacement or resurfacing surgery gets a temporary 100 percent rating for 4 months after surgery, then a permanent rating based on residuals - never below 30 percent for a total replacement.
How the VA rates it
Under DC 5055 as revised in 2021, both total knee replacement and knee resurfacing receive 100 percent for 4 months following surgery (this begins after the initial 1-month convalescent rating under 38 CFR 4.30). After that, total replacements are rated on residuals: 60 percent for chronic severe painful motion or weakness, intermediate levels by analogy to knee codes 5256, 5261, or 5262, with a 30 percent minimum floor for total replacement only. Resurfacing has no minimum; after the 100 percent period it is rated under the regular knee codes (5256-5262). Note the older 1-year 100 percent period now applies to other joints, not the knee. A partial knee replacement is not rated under 5055 at all; it is rated on residuals under the regular knee codes.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 100%For 4 months following implantation of the prosthesis or resurfacing, starting after the 1-month convalescent rating.
Chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected leg (total replacement).
Minimum rating after the 100 percent period, total replacement only. Intermediate residuals between 30 and 60 are rated by analogy to DCs 5256, 5261, or 5262.
Secondary condition strategy
Commonly claimed secondary to this
Conditions veterans often develop from this one — each can be its own rating under 38 CFR 3.310.
- Lumbosacral Strain — Gait changes before and after knee replacement commonly aggravate the low back.
- Limitation of Knee Flexion (opposite knee) — The opposite knee often deteriorates from years of compensating before and after surgery.
- Limited Motion of the Hip — Altered mechanics from an artificial knee can stress the hip on either side.
This is often secondary to
If you already have one of these service-connected, it may support connecting this condition.
- Degenerative Arthritis — Most service-connected knee replacements are the end stage of service-connected knee arthritis.
- Meniscus Tear — Meniscal injury and meniscectomy accelerate the joint failure that leads to replacement.
- Knee Instability — Chronic ligament instability contributes to the degeneration that ends in replacement.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- File promptly around surgery: the convalescent (4.30) rating plus the 4-month 100 percent period are date-driven, and retroactive pay depends on when you file.
- If your knee was already service-connected, the replacement should be rated under 5055 automatically, but confirm the temporary 100 percent was actually assigned.
- At the post-surgery C&P exam, describe persistent weakness, pain with weight-bearing, and any need for a cane or brace; that is the difference between the 30 percent floor and 60 percent.
- Keep operative reports showing whether it was a total replacement, partial replacement, or resurfacing; the minimum 30 percent floor applies only to total replacement.
Rating rules to know
When a rating is assigned under 5055, no additional musculoskeletal rating may be assigned for that same knee unless otherwise directed. A revision surgery is rated like the original only if all original components are replaced. Bilateral factor applies when both knees are compensably rated.
Related diagnostic codes
More musculoskeletal conditions
Lumbosacral Strain (Low Back Strain)
Chronic strain of the low back muscles and ligaments, one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities. VA rates it on how far you can bend and move your low back, not on how much it hurts.
Rated up to 100%
Limitation of Knee Flexion
The most commonly rated knee disability: how far you can bend the knee. Ratings run 0 to 30 percent based on measured flexion, with a 10 percent floor for a painful knee under the painful-motion rule.
Rated up to 30%
Degenerative Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Wear-and-tear arthritis confirmed by X-ray. VA rates it through the motion limits of each affected joint, with a 10 percent floor for a painful arthritic joint even when motion is nearly normal.
Rated up to 20%
Cervical Strain (Neck Strain)
Chronic strain of the neck muscles and ligaments. VA rates it on how far you can move your neck under the same spine formula used for the low back, with neck-specific degree thresholds.
Rated up to 100%
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Wear-and-tear breakdown of the spinal discs and joints, in the low back or neck. VA rates it on measured spinal motion under the same formula used for back and neck strain.
Rated up to 100%
Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of the tissue band supporting the arch, causing heel and arch pain. VA gave it its own diagnostic code in 2021, rated 10 to 30 percent based mainly on whether treatment provides relief.
Rated up to 40%
Disclaimer: Valor Rating is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Always review your documents carefully before submitting to the VA. For official guidance, consult an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.