Ankle pain may not sound as serious as some other service-connected conditions, but for many veterans, it can be a daily challenge that affects mobility, work, and overall quality of life.
Veterans with ankle pain from service-related injuries may be eligible for an ankle pain VA rating.
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In this article, we’ll break down how the VA rates ankle pain, what factors are considered, and how you can get the highest VA disability rating for ankle pain.
Key Takeaways
- Ankle pain is rated using the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system.
- How your ankle pain is rated depends on your symptoms and the underlying cause of the pain.
- If your ankle pain has worsened since your original rating, you file a claim for increased benefits. Alternatively, you can also file a claim for a secondary condition caused by your ankle pain.
In this article about the highest VA disability rating for ankle pain:
Ankle pain in veterans
Studies show that U.S. veterans are five times more likely to experience ankle sprains than civilians. Most of the documented ankle sprains among veterans are a result of sports, exercise, and physical training during service.
Veterans may experience ankle pain for many reasons, from fractures and breaks to poorly fitting footwear. Conditions like tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, osteomyelitis, and arthritis can also cause ankle pain. For some, the pain appears suddenly after an injury, while for others it develops gradually and worsens over time.
Ankle pain VA rating
Ankle conditions can cause symptoms like chronic pain, stiffness, ankle instability, and limited range of motion. The VA rates ankle pain using criteria within the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system.
How your ankle pain is rated depends on your symptoms and the underlying cause of the pain. Below are some of the common ways your ankle pain may be rated.
VA rating for ankle ankylosis
Ankylosis refers to stiffness of a joint as a result of injury or disease. Under diagnostic code 5270, ratings for ankle ankylosis depend on the severity of the ankle’s ability to flex upward towards the shin (flexion) or downward away from the shin (dorsiflexion).
Ankle ankylosis can be rated at 20%, 30%, or 40%.
VA rating for limited motion of the ankle
After an injury, your ankle may not be able to flex or move to its full ability. Diagnostic code 5271 covers limited motion of the ankle. Veterans can receive a 10% or 20% rating for limited motion of the ankle depending on the severity.
The diagnostic code for limited motion or ankylosis of the ankle are also used to assign ratings to veterans with tendonitis or osteoarthritis affecting one or both ankles.
VA rating for ankylosis of the subastragalar or tarsal joint
Subastragalar refers to the ball of the ankle joint, while the tarsal refers to one of seven bones of the ankle. Diagnostic code 5272 covers ankylosis of either the subastragalar or tarsal joint and offers ratings of 10% or 20%.
VA rating for malunion of os calcis or astragalus
Diagnostic code 5273 covers disability rating criteria for deformity or malunion of the os calcis (the heel bone) or the astragalus (the talus bone that sits above the heel bone). This diagnostic code offers ratings of either 10% or 20%.
VA rating for astragalectomy
An astragalectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the talus bone. Veterans who undergo a service-connected astragalectomy will be assigned a disability rating of 20% using diagnostic code 5274.
VA rating for acute, subacute, or chronic osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, can sometimes lead to ankle pain. Osteomyelitis is rated between 10% and 100% using diagnostic code 5000.
VA rating for arthritis
Ankle pain is often caused by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or gout.
Ankle pain caused by gout or osteoarthritis is usually rated based on limitation of motion in the ankle, or diagnostic code 5271. Rheumatoid arthritis affecting the ankle is rated using diagnostic code 5002.
For more information about ankle arthritis, check out this blog post.
Bilateral ankle pain VA rating
Some conditions, like arthritis, cause veterans to experience pain in both ankles, or “bilaterally.”
The VA applies the bilateral factor when rating ankle pain that affects both sides of the body. If you have service-connected ankle pain in both ankles, you can qualify for an additional rating known as the bilateral factor.
The disability ratings for each side are combined as usual, then an extra 10% of that total is added. This ratings increase is meant to recognize the extra challenges veterans face when both sides of the body are affected.
If you need help calculating the bilateral factor, check out our VA rating calculator.
Getting the highest VA disability rating for ankle pain
There are a few ways to increase your VA disability rating for ankle pain.
If your ankle pain has worsened since your original rating, you can file a claim for increased benefits.
Alternatively, you can also file a claim for a secondary condition.
As you age, you may see new issues develop from your initial service-connected ankle pain. While veterans can, and often do, include multiple disabilities in an initial claim for benefits, many increase their disability rating by adding additional conditions later in the process.
Conditions secondary to ankle pain are common. Oftentimes, veterans with ankle pain overcompensate for their shortcomings on one side of the body, and develop problems on the other side.
For example, veterans with ankle pain in one ankle could develop:
- Ankle conditions and pain in the opposite ankle
- Foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis
- Joint pain in the hips, knees, or back
- Bone spurs in the feet
When veterans add additional health conditions to increase their ankle pain VA rating, they must provide evidence of the new health condition’s connection to that rating. The VA may also require a compensation and pension (C&P) exam to evaluate the veteran’s disabilities further for an accurate rating.
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T.S., Army veteran from Indiana
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Frequently asked questions
You can increase your VA disability rating for ankle pain by requesting a rating increase if your pain has worsened since your original rating, or by filing a claim for a secondary condition if your ankle pain led to other problems.
The VA applies the bilateral factor when rating ankle pain that affects both sides of the body. If you have service-connected ankle pain in both ankles, you can qualify for an additional rating known as the bilateral factor.
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.
