United States · VA disability · 38 CFR 4.71a
VA diagnostic code 5260: limitation of flexion of the leg (knee flexion).
Rating criteria for diagnostic code 5260, quoted from the regulation.
DC 5260 (limitation of flexion of the leg) has four levels in 38 CFR 4.71a: 30 percent for flexion limited to 15 degrees, 20 percent to 30 degrees, 10 percent to 45 degrees and 0 percent to 60 degrees.
The short version
DC 5260 (limitation of flexion of the leg) has four levels in 38 CFR 4.71a: 30 percent for flexion limited to 15 degrees, 20 percent to 30 degrees, 10 percent to 45 degrees and 0 percent to 60 degrees.
DC 5260 rating criteria
DC 5260 reads "Leg, limitation of flexion of" in the knee and leg section of 38 CFR 4.71a, and the rating depends on the degree to which flexion is limited.
DC 5260 rating levels
| Limitation (quoted from the regulation) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Flexion limited to 15° | 30% |
| Flexion limited to 30° | 20% |
| Flexion limited to 45° | 10% |
| Flexion limited to 60° | 0% |
How to read DC 5260
The number in each row is the degree to which flexion is limited, so a smaller number of degrees means a higher rating. The regulation text gives the measurement and the percentage and nothing more; this page does not reproduce VA's separate rules on measuring joints or painful motion.
DC 5260 is a companion of DC 5261 (limitation of extension of the leg), which sits directly after it in the schedule and has its own levels; the two codes rate different movements of the same knee.
What this page does not do
It does not diagnose, pick a diagnostic code, estimate your rating or advise on a claim. Every rating decision depends on the medical evidence and on VA’s application of the full schedule, including provisions this page does not reproduce.
Frequently asked questions
What is DC 5260?
Leg, limitation of flexion of, in the knee and leg section of 38 CFR 4.71a.
What ratings are available?
30, 20, 10 and 0 percent.
What flexion limit gives 10 percent?
Flexion limited to 45 degrees.
What flexion limit gives the highest rating?
Flexion limited to 15 degrees, which is 30 percent.
Is knee extension rated under the same code?
No. Limitation of extension is DC 5261, a separate code with its own levels.
Does this page say what rating I should get?
No. It reproduces the published criteria. VA decides the diagnosis and the rating, and this page is not medical or claim advice.
Sources
Read directly from the primary sources below on November 2, 2026 (eCFR text current through October 29, 2026). Quotations are the regulation text; anything labelled as a reading is TNAADO's. The schedule is amended from time to time, so check the linked section for the latest text.
Reference, not a VA determination, medical advice or claim advice
Rating criteria summarized from 38 CFR 4.71a as of October 29, 2026 (eCFR). This page reproduces published criteria so you can read them; it does not tell you whether you qualify, what your rating should be, or how to file. VA decides the diagnosis, the code and the rating. It is not legal, financial or medical advice; an accredited representative (VSO, attorney or claims agent) can review your case.