Whatever pain they see in you when you bend your knee or elbow is defined as your “range of motion.” That is important because that is exactly how to assign your veterans disability rating. Woods and Woods went to work and got my claim approved from the VA when my service officer from the state of Kentucky said he couldn't do any more for me. What is the VA Disability Rating for Rheumatism? This is an easy way to get arthritis in your knees listed as a service-connected disability.