VA Diagnostic Code 5263Genu recurvatum (acquired, traumatic, with weakness and insecurity in weight-bearing objectively demonstrated)
A single 10% rating under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires for it.
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Genu recurvatum (acquired, traumatic, with weakness and insecurity in weight-bearing objectively demonstrated)
Genu Recurvatum (Diagnostic Code 5263)
Understanding This Knee Condition and How the VA Rates It
Diagnostic Code: 5263 Body System: Musculoskeletal System Regulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
What Is Genu Recurvatum?
Genu recurvatum is a knee condition in which the knee bends backward beyond its normal straight position. Under this diagnostic code, the VA specifically addresses acquired, traumatic genu recurvatum — meaning the condition developed as a result of an injury rather than being present from birth.
For rating purposes under Diagnostic Code 5263, this condition is characterized by weakness and insecurity in weight-bearing that is objectively demonstrated. In plain terms, the affected knee shows measurable instability when a person stands or bears weight on it.
Available Rating Level
Under Diagnostic Code 5263, the VA evaluates this condition at a single rating level:
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 10% | Genu recurvatum (acquired, traumatic), with weakness and insecurity in weight-bearing objectively demonstrated |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating genu recurvatum under this diagnostic code, the VA focuses on whether the following elements are present:
- The condition is acquired and traumatic in origin (resulting from an injury).
- There is weakness and insecurity in weight-bearing.
- That weakness and insecurity is objectively demonstrated — supported by measurable clinical findings rather than reported symptoms alone.
This information is provided for general educational purposes and is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.71a. Individual evaluations depend on the specific medical evidence in each case.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5263. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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