Meniscus Tear (Semilunar Cartilage Injury)
A tear of the knee's shock-absorbing cartilage. VA pays 20 percent for a dislocated meniscus with frequent locking, pain, and joint effusion, or 10 percent for lingering symptoms after the meniscus is surgically removed.
How the VA rates it
DC 5258 assigns a single 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion (fluid) in the joint. If the meniscus has been removed (meniscectomy) and the knee remains symptomatic, DC 5259 assigns 10 percent instead. Many veterans with meniscus injuries also develop motion loss, instability, or arthritis in the same knee, which can be rated separately when the symptoms do not overlap. Painful motion can support a compensable rating under 38 CFR 4.59 even when the meniscal criteria are not fully met.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 20%Dislocated semilunar cartilage (meniscus) with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.
What those terms mean
- METs
- — Metabolic equivalents — a measure of how much physical activity your heart can handle before symptoms start. Lower METs = worse heart function = higher rating.
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.
- Degenerative Arthritis — Meniscal tears and meniscectomy are strongly linked to accelerated arthritis in the same knee, ratable separately on limitation of motion.
- Limitation of Knee Flexion (opposite knee) — Favoring the injured knee for years can overload and damage the opposite knee.
- Lumbosacral Strain — An altered gait from chronic knee symptoms can cause or aggravate low back strain.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- Get the MRI or arthroscopy report into the file; VA wants objective confirmation of the tear or dislocated cartilage.
- The 20 percent tier requires locking, pain, AND effusion; make sure treatment notes document all three, including swelling episodes.
- If you had a meniscectomy, claim residuals under 5259 and separately document any motion loss, instability, or arthritis for additional ratings.
- Keep records of episodes: how often the knee locks or swells, and what activities trigger it.
Rating rules to know
A meniscal rating (5258 or 5259) can coexist with separate ratings for instability (5257) and limitation of motion (5260/5261) in the same knee only when each rating rests on distinct symptoms; the same locking or pain cannot be counted twice (Lyles v. Shulkin). You cannot get 5258 and 5259 together for the same knee. 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.