Each distinct knee pathology is separately claimable. A veteran with an ACL reconstruction, a meniscal tear, and patellofemoral syndrome from a service career may genuinely have three or more separate claimable knee conditions, not one general 'bad knee.'
Bilateral conditions are assessed independently for each side, and both should always be claimed where both knees are affected — the combined total meaningfully increases your overall outcome. Knee conditions also frequently travel with hip osteoarthritis, lumbar spondylosis, and ankle issues, since an altered gait from one bad knee places stress on the rest of the kinetic chain.
Why Knee Injuries Shows Up So Often in Veterans
Repeated running on hard surfaces, load carriage, parachuting, physical contact training, and occupational accidents all place significant stress on the knee joint. ADF training culture has historically discouraged reporting minor injuries, which means many veterans accumulated real knee pathology that was never formally documented at the time. Infantry, combat engineers, parachute-qualified personnel, and anyone who carried heavy loads over years of training are at the highest risk — but exposure isn't limited to ground roles; aircraft maintenance crews kneeling in confined spaces, logistics personnel doing repeated lifting, and vehicle crew jumping from cabins all carry meaningful risk too.
What the Statement of Principles requires
DVA measures every claim against a Statement of Principles (SoP) — a legally binding document setting out the specific factors that can connect a condition to service. Here are the pathways that most often apply to knee injuries claims, in plain language.
Trauma to the knee during service
Physical trauma to the knee joint, which doesn't necessarily need to have been formally recorded at the time.
Cumulative physical loading
At least 1,000 hours of qualifying physical activity — running, load carriage — within a 10-year period, relevant to osteoarthritic change.
Load carriage causing chondromalacia patella
Running or jogging at least 1,600 km within any 12-month period, or carrying loads of at least 25 kg for at least 100 hours in a 12-month period.
Parachuting under load
At least 20 descents carrying qualifying equipment weights.
Elevated BMI
A body mass index of 25 or above around the time of onset, relevant specifically to knee osteoarthritis claims.
How DVA Approaches the Impairment Assessment
Assessment covers range of motion (flexion and extension via goniometer), stability under ligament testing, meniscal integrity, crepitus, swelling, muscle wasting, and any surgical hardware — with joint replacements attracting a specific rating regardless of post-surgical function. Mild limitation sits at the lower end of the scale, moderate loss of range with pain on stairs and prolonged walking sits in the middle, and significant functional loss requiring a brace or walking aid — or a total knee replacement — sits at the top. For bilateral involvement, each knee is scored independently and the two ratings combine, producing a total noticeably higher than either knee alone — and when combined further with spinal or other conditions, the overall picture can add up considerably.
The evidence that decides it
Most initial liability decisions currently take DVA somewhere between 3 and 6 months, longer for complex or multi-condition claims. A complete, well-organised submission up front tends to shorten that wait considerably.
- MRI of the knee (both knees if bilateral) confirming specific pathologies — meniscal tears, ligament damage, cartilage loss, bone marrow oedema
- An orthopaedic specialist report assessing each identified condition with range of motion measurements
- Service records and a statutory declaration establishing the physical demands and any acute injuries
- Surgical records where knee surgery has occurred (arthroscopy reports, post-operative notes)
- Updated imaging if your last MRI is more than five years old, since degenerative conditions progress
- GP records showing the chronological symptom and treatment history since discharge
On the PAMT list
Knee Injuries is one of the conditions covered by Provisional Access to Medical Treatment, meaning funded treatment could begin before DVA reached a liability decision. This included:
- Physiotherapy and knee rehabilitation programs
- Orthopaedic specialist consultations
- MRI where clinically indicated
- Hydrotherapy
Questions veterans ask about Knee Injuries
I had knee surgery while I was still serving. Does that help my claim?
Yes — documented surgery during service is strong, direct evidence of the connection to your service.
Can I claim a knee injury from physical training rather than a specific incident?
Yes — cumulative loading from PT over time is a recognised pathway in its own right, separate from any single traumatic event.
Should I claim both knees if both are affected?
Yes — bilateral involvement should always be claimed for both sides, since each is assessed independently.
Can I claim knee osteoarthritis decades after discharge?
Yes — degenerative conditions frequently become symptomatic long after the service exposure that caused them.
Does DVA cover knee replacement surgery?
Where the underlying condition is accepted, related surgical treatment is generally covered.
Do I need to prove a specific incident caused my knee condition?
No — cumulative loading over a service career is just as valid a pathway as a single documented injury.
Related conditions
The same service exposure that causes knee injuries often produces related conditions that are separately claimable. It's worth having these assessed at the same time rather than as an afterthought.
Ready to Look Into a Knee Injuries Claim?
Book a free consultation and we'll go through whether your circumstances meet the SoP factors, what evidence would strengthen your case, and what to expect next.
This page is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Statement of Principles factors, thresholds, and program details are current as at the update date above but can change — always confirm against your own determination letter and the current SoP instrument. For medical concerns, speak with a qualified health professional; for legal advice, a solicitor experienced in military compensation law.
