Limited Motion of the Ankle
Chronic ankle conditions (often old sprains or arthritis) are rated 10 or 20 percent based on measured loss of up-and-down motion, using specific degree cutoffs added to the rule in 2021.
How the VA rates it
DC 5271 rates limited ankle motion as marked (20 percent) or moderate (10 percent), and since the 2021 revision those words have exact definitions: marked means less than 5 degrees of dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees of plantar flexion; moderate means less than 15 degrees of dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees of plantar flexion. (Normal is roughly 0-20 degrees dorsiflexion and 0-45 degrees plantar flexion.) A painful ankle with arthritis or healed injury that does not meet the moderate cutoffs generally still warrants 10 percent under 38 CFR 4.59.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 20%Marked limitation: less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion.
Moderate limitation: less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion.
What those terms mean
- flexion
- — Bending the joint (e.g., bending your knee or leaning forward).
Secondary condition strategy
Commonly claimed secondary to this
Conditions veterans often develop from this one — each can be its own rating under 38 CFR 3.310.
- Limitation of Knee Flexion — An altered gait from chronic ankle problems overloads the knee on either side.
- Limited Motion of the Hip — Abnormal ankle mechanics transmit stress up the kinetic chain to the hip.
- Lumbosacral Strain — Chronic limping from an ankle condition can cause or aggravate low back strain.
This is often secondary to
If you already have one of these service-connected, it may support connecting this condition.
- Flat Feet (Pes Planus) — Pes planus alters ankle alignment and loading, contributing to ankle degeneration.
- Plantar Fasciitis — Gait changes to avoid heel pain can stress and stiffen the ankle.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- The 2021 criteria are pure numbers: make sure the examiner measures dorsiflexion and plantar flexion with a goniometer and records exact degrees.
- Report where pain starts in the arc and how much motion you lose during flare-ups or after prolonged standing and walking.
- Document in-service ankle sprains, profiles, or airborne/ruck injuries and link them to current imaging showing arthritis or instability.
- If the ankle is painful but misses the degree cutoffs, cite 38 CFR 4.59 painful motion for the 10 percent minimum.
Rating rules to know
Limited motion (5271) cannot be combined with ankylosis (5270) for the same ankle. The bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26) applies when both ankles, or an ankle plus another disability of the other leg, are compensably rated.
Related diagnostic codes
More musculoskeletal conditions
Lumbosacral Strain (Low Back Strain)
Chronic strain of the low back muscles and ligaments, one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities. VA rates it on how far you can bend and move your low back, not on how much it hurts.
Rated up to 100%
Limitation of Knee Flexion
The most commonly rated knee disability: how far you can bend the knee. Ratings run 0 to 30 percent based on measured flexion, with a 10 percent floor for a painful knee under the painful-motion rule.
Rated up to 30%
Degenerative Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Wear-and-tear arthritis confirmed by X-ray. VA rates it through the motion limits of each affected joint, with a 10 percent floor for a painful arthritic joint even when motion is nearly normal.
Rated up to 20%
Cervical Strain (Neck Strain)
Chronic strain of the neck muscles and ligaments. VA rates it on how far you can move your neck under the same spine formula used for the low back, with neck-specific degree thresholds.
Rated up to 100%
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Wear-and-tear breakdown of the spinal discs and joints, in the low back or neck. VA rates it on measured spinal motion under the same formula used for back and neck strain.
Rated up to 100%
Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of the tissue band supporting the arch, causing heel and arch pain. VA gave it its own diagnostic code in 2021, rated 10 to 30 percent based mainly on whether treatment provides relief.
Rated up to 40%
Disclaimer: Valor Rating is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Always review your documents carefully before submitting to the VA. For official guidance, consult an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.