The VA provides financial benefits to veterans who experience ongoing impairment from injuries or conditions resulting from their military service. The physical toll of military service can cause a wide range of injuries and chronic degenerative conditions. Many veterans experience ongoing disability or impairment due to knee injuries sustained in the military, potentially entitling them to VA disability benefits. Veterans with service-connected knee injuries should understand how they can obtain financial compensation for the debilitating effects of their injury.
Common Service-Connected Knee Conditions
Some of the most common examples of knee conditions that veterans may have sustained while serving in the military include:
- Knee strains and sprains
- Knee or patella dislocations
- Bone fractures
- Ligament (ACL, MCL, LCL) tears
- Meniscus injuries
- Patellar injuries
- Degenerative arthritis
Injuries and conditions involving the knee can arise due to various aspects of military life, including repetitive stress injuries from physical training or marching, training injuries (e.g., falls, non-contact injuries), or combat trauma. Service-connected knee injuries or degenerative conditions like arthritis may also require veterans to seek surgical resurfacing of knee joints or joint replacement.
How the VA Rates Knee Disabilities
The VA rates disabilities resulting from service-connected knee injuries using the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). The VASRD categorizes knee injuries or conditions into specific diagnostic codes. Each diagnostic code has distinct symptom criteria that determine the specific disability rating for the condition. Criteria typically focus on factors such as the range of motion in the knee, the degree of pain caused by the condition or remaining after surgical treatment (such as a resurfacing or knee replacement), and instability of the knee joint.
Veterans may have two or more diagnostic codes applicable to their knee injury or condition. In these cases, the VA will determine a combined disability rating for a veteran using a formula that combines the separate disability ratings for each service-connected condition.
Proving a Service Connection
A veteran seeking VA disability benefits for a knee injury must establish service connection for the injury or condition. The elements for proving a service connection include:
- A current, diagnosed knee condition or chronic injury
- An in-service event, injury, or series of events
- A nexus (medical link) between in-service events and the knee condition
Veterans can use various types of evidence to prove a service connection for their knee conditions, such as:
- Service records or buddy statements from commanders or unit members to corroborate the claimed in-service event(s)
- In-service medical records of an acute injury or treatment for a repetitive stress injury or degenerative condition
- Private medical records establishing a diagnosis and treatment
- Nexus letters from medical professionals opining as to the existence of a service connection
- Medical records and compensation & pension (C&P) exam results documenting the degree of impairment caused by the condition
- Lay statements discussing the effects of a veteran’s condition on their personal and professional life
How to Strengthen a Knee Injury Claim
A veteran can bolster their claim for VA disability benefits for a service-connected knee injury or condition by taking steps such as:
- Attending all C&P exams requested by the VA
- Providing honest descriptions of pain, limitations, and frequency of flare-ups
- Keeping a symptom journal to document pain, mobility issues, missed work, etc.
- Consulting medical professionals about possible secondary conditions caused by a knee injury or chronic condition, such as hip or ankle issues resulting from an altered gait
Contact Our VA Disability Benefits Attorneys Today
Did you sustain a knee injury in the military? If the effects of your injury continue to limit your work or daily life after you’ve left the military, you may have the right to seek VA disability benefits. Contact Kinman Law Offices today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our VA disability benefits attorneys to learn more about your eligibility for VA disability benefits for a service-connected knee injury and to learn how our firm can help you secure the financial compensation you deserve for your military service.
