Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
Ankylosis of the knee means your knee joint has become completely stiff and fused in one position - it can't bend or straighten anymore. The VA rates this condition from 30% to 60% based on what angle your knee is stuck at. A knee frozen straight (full extension) gets 30%, while a knee bent at 45 degrees or more gets the maximum 60% because it makes walking and daily activities much more difficult.
Rating levels
- 60% — Your knee is completely frozen and stuck in a bent position at 45 degrees or more, which is an extremely poor outcome. Ankylosis means your knee joint has no movement at all - it's permanently locked in place and cannot bend or straighten. This severe limitation would make it very difficult to walk normally, sit comfortably, or perform daily activities.
- 50% — Your knee joint is completely stiff and frozen (ankylosis) in a bent position between 20 and 45 degrees. This means you cannot straighten your knee fully or bend it any further - it's locked in place somewhere between slightly bent and halfway bent.
- 40% — Your knee joint is permanently stuck in a bent position between 10 and 20 degrees (ankylosis means the joint is fused and cannot move). You cannot straighten your knee fully or bend it any further than this fixed position.
- 30% — Your knee is completely stiff and cannot bend or straighten at all (ankylosis means the joint is fused and immobile), but it's stuck in a good position - either completely straight or bent only slightly between 0 and 10 degrees. This favorable position allows you to bear weight and walk relatively normally despite having no knee movement.