What started as mild foot pain during military service has developed into chronic pain and difficulty walking. While it may sound like a harmless condition, flat feet can cause serious symptoms and make it difficult for veterans to complete daily activities. If you’re a veteran with flat feet, also known as pes planus, you’ll want to understand how you may qualify for a flat feet VA rating. This article explains.
Don’t fight the VA alone
In this article about the flat feet VA rating:
Flat feet symptoms and complications
Flat feet, also known as pes planus, is a condition that occurs when the arches of the feet no longer exist or never developed.
Early symptoms of the condition include foot and ankle pain. Over time, flat feet may lead to gait abnormalities like limping and trouble with coordination, deformities like bunions or hammertoes, and chronic pain that doesn’t subside with rest.
People with flat feet often end up experiencing pain in the knees, hips, and lower back. They’re also more at risk of straining, spraining, or otherwise injuring the feet and ankles.
Flat feet VA rating
The VA rates acquired flat feet using diagnostic code 5276 in the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system. Unilateral pes planus or flat feet that only affects one foot, is rated differently than bilateral flat feet, which affects both.
Flat feet and related conditions
Although some people are born with flat feet, it is possible to develop the condition later in life. Flat feet that develops in adults is called acquired flat feet.
Veterans who injure their foot or ankle during service may develop pes planus as a result. This could warrant a direct service connection and qualify the veteran for a flat feet VA rating.
Other times, flat feet can develop in veterans as the result of another service-connected condition. Some conditions that may lead to flat feet include:
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD): This is the most common cause of acquired flat feet and occurs when the tendon supporting the arch of the foot becomes inflamed. This type of tendonitis is often the result of repetitive strain injuries.
- Diabetes: Because diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness in the lower legs and feet, it can be difficult or even impossible to feel pain when you injure your foot. This can lead to a condition called Charcot foot. Charcot foot happens when an injury or infection causes severe complications because the symptoms went unnoticed and untreated. This can result in pes planus.
- Arthritis: Degenerative and inflammatory types of arthritis can cause swelling and deformities of the joints in your feet, leading to flattened arches.
If you’re a veteran with a service-connected condition you believe caused your flat feet, you may be eligible for a flat feet VA disability rating on a secondary basis. Veterans can receive a secondary service-connected disability rating for any health condition that is medically related to another condition that’s service connected.
VA disability rating for flat feet and plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the rubber band-like ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot. It goes from your heel all the way to your toes, connecting the bones in your foot and forming the arch.
People with flat feet walk in a way that strains the plantar fascia muscle.
Having flat feet doesn’t automatically mean you’ll develop plantar fasciitis, but if you do, the conditions are likely related. However, because of the VA’s pyramiding rule, it’s unlikely you will receive separate ratings for both.
Plantar fasciitis is rated using diagnostic code 5269 in the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system. The VA may assign the condition a rating between 10% and 30% depending on the severity of symptoms following treatment and whether it’s unilateral or bilateral.
Everyone was extremely professional and seemed to be very concerned with my case. They always keep me informed about my case and the process. I would recommend in a minute.
M.S., an Army vet in Oklahoma
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
Bilateral pes planus VA rating
Pes planus can affect just one foot or both feet. When it affects both feet, this may be referred to as bilateral pes planus.
The VA can apply the bilateral factor for some conditions that occur in both feet. However, in the case of flat feet, the bilateral factor does not apply. The rating criteria already takes into account whether one or both feet are affected, and this will help determine the veteran’s rating.
Pes planus affecting only one foot cannot receive higher than a 30% rating, unless there is complete loss of use of the foot.
In such a case where the veteran can no longer use their foot, they would be eligible for additional compensation not through the bilateral factor, but instead through special monthly compensation (SMC).
Bilateral pes planus can warrant a 0%, 10%, 30% or 50% VA rating.
How Woods & Woods can help
Woods & Woods has been fighting for people with injuries and disabilities since 1985. Our team of accredited VA disability lawyers, case managers, legal analysts, and intake specialists know the ins and outs of the VA so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Call us today for your free and confidential case evaluation.
Our team is ready to help
Frequently asked questions
The VA rates flat feet using diagnostic code 5276 in the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system. Unilateral flat feet, or flat feet affecting only one foot, may receive a flat feet VA disability rating between 0-30%. Bilateral flat feet, or flat feet affecting both feet, may receive a rating between 0-50%.
The rating criteria for pes planus takes into account whether one or both feet are affected, and this will help determine the veteran’s rating. The bilateral pes planus VA rating can be 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50%, depending on severity.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
