★ Musculoskeletal
Total Knee Replacement VA Rating (DC 5055)
38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5055; 38 CFR § 3.400(o)
Overview
The 100% period runs for one year following implantation of the prosthesis, after a one-month post-surgical period; VA then schedules a reexamination to set the residuals evaluation.
The minimum evaluation after the 100% period is 30%. A 60% evaluation applies for chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.
Intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion are rated by analogy to DC 5256, 5261, or 5262, but not below the 30% minimum.
Partial knee replacement is generally evaluated under the standard knee codes rather than DC 5055.
How to Establish Service Connection
- Progression: replacement of a knee already service connected for arthritis, meniscal damage, or ligament injury.
- Secondary under 38 CFR § 3.310: replacement of the opposite knee where a clinician attributes the degeneration to years of altered gait from the service-connected side.
- Where a claim is filed after surgery, the effective-date rules at 38 CFR § 3.400(o) govern when the 100% period begins on paper.
Rating Criteria
Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5055; 38 CFR § 3.400(o)
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | For one year following implantation of the prosthesis. |
| 30% | Minimum evaluation after the 100% period ends. |
| Intermediate | Intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion rated by analogy to DC 5256, 5261, or 5262, but not less than 30%. |
| 60% | Chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity. |
See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →
Evidence Checklist
- Operative report identifying the date of implantation and whether the replacement was total or partial.
- Post-operative physical therapy notes recording motion regained and remaining deficits.
- Records documenting ongoing pain, weakness, instability, or use of a cane or walker after the first year.
- Any revision surgery records, which can restart the analysis.
Common Secondary Conditions
Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to Total Knee Replacement:
What the C&P Exam Documents
General information about how this condition is typically evaluated. This is not coaching on what to say and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice.
- →The reexamination at the end of the 100% year sets the long-term evaluation; what is documented about pain, weakness, and motion at that visit carries forward.
- →A knee that still requires an assistive device a year after surgery is a fact worth having in the treatment record, not only in the exam narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
Have a Total Knee Replacement claim or denial?
Four fields. A VA-accredited claims agent reviews it and responds within 3–5 business days. Contingent fees apply only to awarded past-due benefits on appeals — never on initial claims.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.
Educational content only — not legal advice and not medical advice. Rating criteria on this page are summarized in plain English from 38 CFR Part 4; consult VA.gov or the current Code of Federal Regulations for official criteria. This page provides general education about how the VA rates this condition; it is not individualized advice, does not establish a representation relationship, and should not be used to self-diagnose, self-treat, or decide a course of action without speaking to a qualified clinician and a VA-accredited representative. Outcomes depend on each veteran's individual facts, evidence, and the adjudicator's judgment; no specific rating, effective date, or other result is guaranteed. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Related Conditions
Knee Conditions
Limitation of flexion/extension, instability, and meniscus ratings.
Joint Replacement (Knee/Hip)
100% for one year post-op, then minimum 30% under DC 5054/5055.
Knee Arthritis (Degenerative / Traumatic)
X-ray confirmed knee arthritis rated under DC 5003/5010 when motion loss is non-compensable.
Knee Ankylosis
A knee fixed in one position, rated 30%–60% by the angle of fixation under DC 5256.