★ Musculoskeletal
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome VA Rating
38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261; 38 CFR §§ 4.40, 4.45, 4.59
Overview
Patellofemoral pain syndrome — anterior knee pain around and behind the kneecap — is one of the most frequently documented musculoskeletal complaints in service.
Because the rating schedule has no dedicated code, VA rates it by analogy under 38 CFR § 4.20, usually on the knee motion codes.
Many veterans with this diagnosis have near-normal measured motion, which puts 38 CFR § 4.59 and the functional-loss regulations at the center of the evaluation.
Chondromalacia patella, patellar maltracking, and runner's knee are commonly evaluated the same way.
How to Establish Service Connection
- Direct: repetitive loading duty — ruck marches, running, climbing, kneeling, jumping — with in-service knee complaints or profiles.
- Continuity of symptomatology from separation forward, documented in treatment records.
- Secondary under 38 CFR § 3.310: anterior knee pain from altered mechanics caused by a service-connected foot, ankle, hip, or back condition.
Rating Criteria
Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261; 38 CFR §§ 4.40, 4.45, 4.59
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Flexion limited to 60° or extension limited to 5° (non-compensable under DC 5260/5261). |
| 10% | Flexion limited to 45°; or extension limited to 10°; or, under 38 CFR § 4.59, the minimum compensable evaluation for an actually painful joint. |
| 20% | Flexion limited to 30°; or extension limited to 15°. |
| 30% | Flexion limited to 15°; or extension limited to 20°. |
See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →
Evidence Checklist
- Service treatment records or profiles referencing anterior knee pain, patellar tendinitis, or chondromalacia.
- Goniometer measurements over time, including where pain begins in the arc of motion.
- Physical therapy notes describing pain with stairs, squatting, kneeling, or prolonged sitting.
- Imaging showing cartilage softening or patellar maltracking, when available.
Common Secondary Conditions
Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome:
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.
- →Correia v. McDonald requires testing for pain on active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing where applicable; a report missing those findings is visibly incomplete.
- →Sharp v. Shulkin requires the examiner to estimate additional functional loss during flare-ups or explain why an estimate cannot be given.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
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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.
Knee Arthritis (Degenerative / Traumatic)
X-ray confirmed knee arthritis rated under DC 5003/5010 when motion loss is non-compensable.
Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knee)
Tendonitis rated as degenerative arthritis on limitation of motion under DC 5024.
Knee Instability (Subluxation)
Recurrent subluxation or lateral instability rated separately from range of motion under DC 5257.