If you’re a veteran experiencing foot pain that interferes with normal movement and daily life, you aren’t alone. In fact, due to the intense physical demands of military life, some foot conditions are more common among veterans than the general population.
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If you can prove that your foot pain and related conditions are connected to your military service, you could be eligible for a VA rating for foot pain under your condition’s diagnostic code. Here, we describe some of the most common foot conditions that cause pain and can be service connected, and how the VA rates them.
In this article about the VA rating for foot pain:
Foot conditions among veterans
Military jobs and training that require consistent physical labor can have a significant impact on the health of the feet. Including general overuse of the feet, the following are a few ways veterans could develop painful foot conditions from military service:
- Jumping/landing improperly or repeatedly on your feet
- Walking for hours
- Long distance running
- Carrying heavy loads like a rucksack
- Wearing work boots that are the wrong size
- Overcompensating on one side due to an injury in the opposite leg
Foot pain is more than just pain. Discomfort or an injury to one or both feet could lead to injury to other parts of the body, such as the lower back. For veterans with foot conditions that make living a normal life difficult, compensation may be available.
VA disability lawyer Joseph Scott said, “These conditions of the feet matter because they can be debilitating and painful. We’ve had a lot of people who have had these foot conditions where they can’t really work anymore, they can’t attend to daily chores around the house, they can’t get up to exercise, which can lead to additional problems. They can’t go visit friends and family, all because the pain of these conditions is so significant it precludes the life they once had.”
Let’s talk about some common foot conditions veterans live with, sometimes long after discharge, that cause foot pain, limited motion, or even loss of use, and what rating you can receive if your condition is service-connected.
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VA disability rating for foot pain and conditions
The VA rates conditions that cause foot pain and conditions according to the criteria in the Schedule of Ratings for the Musculoskeletal System.
Injuries to the foot are rated using diagnostic code 5284 at 10%, 20%, or 30% disabling, with loss of a single foot constituting a 40% rating.
Other foot conditions have their own diagnostic codes and rating criteria, which we share below. Conditions without a diagnostic code can be rated analogously under the condition that most closely matches your symptoms.
Common foot pain VA disability ratings
Veterans with a foot condition or pain should be aware of what foot problems qualify for VA disability. Below we describe some of the most common foot conditions veterans experience and how the VA rates them.
Plantar fasciitis VA rating
The plantar fascia is the ligament that runs across the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes and is responsible for supporting the arch. If the plantar fascia is overused or stretched it can tear, causing pain in the heel and foot. This is called plantar fasciitis.
Veterans who stood for long periods of time on hard surfaces or performed repetitive actions like running or jumping during military service could be at a greater risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
If you’re a veteran with a plantar fasciitis diagnosis that is a result of military service, you could earn a plantar fasciitis VA rating. Rated under diagnostic code 5269, veterans with service-connected plantar fasciitis can earn a higher rating if both feet are affected.
Diagnostic code 5269, Plantar fasciitis, rates as follows:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of use of the foot | 40% | $755.28 |
| No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, in both feet | 30% | $524.31 |
| No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, in one foot | 20% | $338.49 |
| Otherwise, in one or both feet | 10% | $171.23 |
This diagnostic code also includes a note that if a veteran has been recommended for surgical intervention, but is not a surgical candidate, they should be rated at 20% or 30%, whichever is more applicable.
Flatfeet VA rating
Flatfeet, also known as flatfoot, occurs when the arch of the foot flattens completely, touching the ground when a person stands up. Sometimes this condition isn’t painful and doesn’t require treatment, but when someone with flatfeet experiences discomfort, it’s often felt in the heel or arch area.
Some cases of flatfeet occur when the arches in the feet don’t develop during childhood. Other cases develop over time from wear and tear or injuries. Flatfoot was found to be significantly more prevalent in veterans versus non-veterans. Veterans who experienced an injury to the foot or ankle during service, have rheumatoid arthritis, or are obese could be more at risk of developing flatfoot.
The VA has reserved diagnostic code 5276 for acquired flatfoot, meaning flatfoot connected to service rather than flatfoot you were born with.
| Description | One foot/both feet |
|---|---|
| Pronounced; marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement, and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation, not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances | 50% / 30% |
| Severe; objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities | 30% / 20% |
| Moderate; weight-bearing line over or medial to great toe, inward bowing of the tendo achillis, pain on manipulation and use of the feet | 10% / 10% |
| Mild; symptoms relieved by built-up shoe or arch support | 0% / 0% |
Hammertoe (aka. hammer toe) and mallet toe VA rating
Both hammertoe and mallet toe are foot conditions that cause an unusual bend in a joint of a toe or toes. The cause of hammertoe and mallet toe are often unknown, but wearing shoes that don’t fit properly has been associated with the two. Symptoms could include, toe stiffness, pain when wearing shoes, redness, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected toes.
Under diagnostic code 5282, the highest rating you could earn for hammertoe or mallet toe is 10% disabling if all toes have a deformity.
Hallux valgus (bunions VA rating)
Hallux valgus, commonly known as bunions, are painful bony lumps that form on the outside of the big toe. Bunions develop gradually but can be made worse from pressure on the toe from standing for long periods or wearing shoes that are too narrow. When bunions form, some people may want to avoid wearing certain shoes altogether, but this can be difficult for working veterans or those still in the military. For veterans especially, wearing heavy boots during long marches can lead to bunions over time.
If you have service-connected Hallux Valgus, the highest rating you could earn for the condition in one foot is 10% under diagnostic code 5280.
Hallux Rigidus VA rating
Hallux Rigidus means “stiff big toe” which is the main symptom of this foot condition that affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, where the base of the big toe meets the foot. Other symptoms include pain in the big toe, swelling around the joint, loss of range of motion of the big toe, and potentially the development of a callus on the top of the big toe. Veterans may develop this foot condition from overuse of the MTP joint or wearing shoes that don’t fit properly during service.
Under diagnostic code 5281, Hallux Rigidus is rated the same as severe hallux valgus, with a maximum rating of 10% disabling if the condition is present in one foot.
Clawfoot VA rating
Clawfoot is a deformity of the foot in which the toe that is closest to the ankle is bent upward, and the other toe joints are bent downward, resembling a claw. The abnormal bending of the toe can increase pressure and cause painful calluses on your toes.
Under diagnostic code 5278, the VA rates claw foot based on the severity of the deformity, presence of painful calluses, tenderness of your toes, and whether one or both feet are affected.
Diagnostic code 5278 for acquired claw foot (pes cavus), rates as follows:
| Description | Bilateral/unilateral |
|---|---|
| Marked contraction of plantar fascia with dropped forefoot, all toes hammer toes, very painful callosities, marked varus deformity | 50% / 30% |
| All toes tending to dorsiflexion, limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle to right angle, shortened plantar fascia, and marked tenderness under metatarsal heads | 30% / 20% |
| Great toe dorsiflexed, some limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle, definite tenderness under metatarsal heads | 10% / 10% |
What else can affect your foot pain VA rating?
The VA has certain rules that may affect your foot pain rating. Below, we describe some of these rules so you know what to expect.
The pyramiding rule
The pyramiding rule prohibits evaluating the same disability under multiple ratings. Most foot conditions share the same or similar symptoms, therefore the VA will only assign one rating if a veteran has more than one foot condition. If you have more than one foot condition, but your symptoms are different, you may be able to receive a second rating.
The bilateral factor for foot conditions
If both of your arms, both legs, both feet, or paired skeletal muscles are affected by service-connected conditions, the rule of the bilateral factor could help you earn a higher rating.
For example, if you have a foot condition in your left foot and another condition affecting your right knee, you could qualify. Many conditions that cause foot pain and discomfort can be bilateral, meaning they affect both feet – this could also qualify a veteran for the bilateral factor.
When applying the bilateral factor, the ratings for the disabilities on your right and left sides will be determined and combined as usual. Then, 10% of that combined value is added to your overall rating. Because VA ratings are rounded up or down, the bilateral factor has the potential to bump you up to the next highest disability payment level.
Special monthly compensation for foot conditions
If a veteran’s foot condition or injury leads to the loss of use of one or more feet, a 40% disability rating could be granted under diagnostic code 5167, or special monthly compensation (SMC) could be available. SMC L through O provides additional compensation for veterans if they entirely lose or lose the use of a sense or body part.
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TDIU for foot pain and conditions
Issues in the feet can be debilitating and may make it nearly impossible for veterans to stand for long periods, wear certain shoes, walk or run, or perform other physical duties a job requires.
If you are unable to work due to your service-connected foot pain, you may be eligible for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). TDIU is designed for veterans who do not have a 100% disabling condition but are still unable to keep gainful employment because of their service-connected conditions.
To be eligible for TDIU, veterans must typically have at least one service-connected disability rated at least 60% OR two or more service-connected disabilities, with one condition rated at least 40% and a combined rating of at least 70%.
It’s also important to note that, according to 38 CFR 4.16(a), disabilities resulting from the same medical root or a single accident could be considered as one disability for TDIU.
TDIU pays at the same monthly rate as a 100% rating, without the requirement of a 100% rating.
How Woods and Woods can help
If you have a foot condition that you think is connected to your military service, you could be owed VA disability compensation. The VA-accredited attorneys at Woods and Woods can help. Contact us today. Legal consultations are free, and you won’t pay us unless we win your case.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To be eligible for TDIU, veterans must typically have at least one service-connected disability rated at least 60% OR two or more service-connected disabilities, with one condition rated at least 40% and a combined rating of at least 70%.
Foot pain and related foot conditions can often be service-connected due to the physical nature of training, combat, and more. Among other causes, foot conditions may be a direct result of an injury or could be secondarily caused by other service-connected issues that cause you to overcompensate on one foot.
Neil Woods
VA disability lawyer
Woods and Woods
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Accreditation Number: 44739
