Your knee aches. The pain is pretty much nonstop, but it’s worse when you do a lot of walking or have to go up and down stairs. Your knee pain has steadily gotten worse since you served in the military, and it’s beginning to interfere with your daily life. Now, the doctor diagnoses you with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Don’t fight the VA alone
Is there a VA rating for that? If not, can you still be compensated for your pain? If you developed knee pain due to your service, you’ll want to understand the patellofemoral pain syndrome VA rating.
Key Takeaways
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome causes pain at the front of your knee. It’s also known as “runner’s knee.”
- There is no patellofemoral pain syndrome VA rating. Instead, the VA rates it based on how much it affects your knee’s range of motion or stability.
- The VA may rate patellofemoral syndrome using diagnostic code 5256, 5257, 5260, or 5261 under the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system.
In this article about the patellofemoral pain syndrome VA rating:
What is patellofemoral pain syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) causes a dull, aching pain at the front of your knee, around your kneecap. It’s also known as “runner’s knee” because athletes who do a lot of running or jumping often develop it.
Aside from overuse, injury, muscle imbalances, or surgery on other parts of your leg can cause patellofemoral pain syndrome. It’s a common condition that many people develop, especially if they suddenly become more active. Notably, it is common among military members.
The pain you experience with patellofemoral pain syndrome typically worsens when taking stairs, kneeling, squatting, or sitting for long periods.
Doctors can typically treat PFPS with rest and pain relievers, while in other cases physical therapy or more intense measures may need to be taken, like surgery.
If you are in the military or working an active job, resting the knee may not feel like an option, however, which can worsen the condition. If your patellofemoral pain syndrome becomes a chronic, ongoing issue, you could qualify for VA disability benefits.
Is there a patellofemoral pain syndrome VA rating?
There is no specific VA disability rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome. Instead, the VA rates the condition based on how much PFPS affects your knee’s range of motion or stability. The more your knee’s mobility or stability is reduced, the higher the rating.
A VA adjudicator should also consider your functional loss. In this case, that means how much your “normal excursion, strength, speed, coordination, and endurance” is limited by your knee issues.
The VA has multiple diagnostic codes for knee problems, which mainly address extension and flexion, or how much your knee can straighten and bend. Some also consider the stability of the knee.
Below are the potential patellofemoral pain syndrome VA ratings you could receive based on how much your pain limits your knee’s range of motion:
Diagnostic code 5256 Knee, ankylosis of:
Diagnostic code 5260 Leg, limitation of flexion of:
Diagnostic code 5261 Leg, limitation of extension of:
If your PFPS primarily causes instability or dislocation (called subluxation), it may be rated under diagnostic code 5257 as follows.
Diagnostic code 5257 Knee, other impairment of:
Bilateral patellofemoral pain VA rating
The VA may use the bilateral factor to evaluate your patellofemoral pain if it’s in both of your knees.
The bilateral factor allows the VA to assign a more appropriate disability rating to veterans with disabilities affecting both sides of the body. “The purpose of the bilateral factor is to compensate veterans for additional disabilities and their restrictions, and the ability to function in their everyday life,” explained VA disability lawyer Krystal Lechner.
The pain in your left and right knees will first be evaluated and combined as usual. Then, 10% of the value of the combined rating will be added (not combined) before proceeding with further combinations.
In many cases, this boosts a veteran’s overall VA rating by 10%, providing additional monthly benefits.
Service connecting your patellofemoral pain
Research has found that knee injuries are common in military service members. One study of young adult men in the military documented about 20% of participants seeking medical care for exercise-induced knee injuries at least once during their service.
Consistent strenuous activity including marching, running, climbing, and jumping may lead to both temporary issues in service or chronic knee conditions later in life. Falls, wrecks, and other accidents that cause injury to the knee can also lead to chronic PFPS.
Regardless of the exact cause, you’ll need to service connect your PFPS in order to receive VA disability benefits. This means proving your PFPS is linked to an in-service event or to another service-connected health condition.
Having records of seeking medical care during service for a knee-related injury may assist in making a connection. A doctor can also help by writing a nexus letter explaining how your service caused your PFPS.
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TDIU for patellofemoral pain syndrome and chronic knee issues
In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for knee pain and related issues. TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or simply IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.
Veterans with knee pain may struggle with mobility. Knee pain can also lead to overcompensating on your good leg or otherwise developing an antalgic gait. When this happens, a veteran may find what started as a knee issue is now affecting the foot, hip, or ankle as well.
This chronic pain and limited mobility can affect your ability to work, especially in combination with any other service-connected health issues.
Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
How Woods & Woods can help
Woods & Woods has been fighting for people with injuries and disabilities since 1985. Our team of accredited VA disability lawyers, case managers, legal analysts, and intake specialists know the ins and outs of the VA so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Call us today for your free and confidential case evaluation.
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Frequently asked questions
The VA recognizes patellofemoral pain syndrome and offers VA disability for the condition when it is service connected and severe enough to warrant compensation.
There is no specific VA disability rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome. Instead, the VA can rate the condition based on how much it affects your knee’s range of motion and stability.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
