Hallux Valgus (Bunion)
A bunion - the great toe angling outward with a painful bump at its base. VA rates it a flat 10 percent per foot, either after bunion surgery with bone resection or when severe enough to equal an amputated great toe.
How the VA rates it
DC 5280 offers exactly one compensable level: 10 percent per foot, granted either when the bunion has been operated on with resection of the metatarsal head (a common bunionectomy) or when unoperated but so severe it is the functional equivalent of amputating the great toe. Milder bunions rate 0 percent under this code, though painful motion or painful surgical residuals may support compensation through other provisions (38 CFR 4.59, or a painful scar rating).
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 10%Operated, with resection of the metatarsal head; OR severe disability equivalent to amputation of the great toe. Rated per affected foot.
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.
- Plantar Fasciitis — Shifting weight off a painful bunion changes load across the foot and can strain the plantar fascia.
- Hammer toes — Hallux valgus crowds the lesser toes and commonly produces hammer toe deformities (DC 5282).
This is often secondary to
If you already have one of these service-connected, it may support connecting this condition.
- Flat Feet (Pes Planus) — Chronic pronation from pes planus drives the great toe into valgus; bunions are a recognized secondary to service-connected flat feet.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- If you had a bunionectomy, get the operative report showing whether the metatarsal head was resected; that specific procedure is what triggers the 10 percent.
- For unoperated bunions, severity evidence matters: weight-bearing X-rays with the deformity angle plus documentation of how the toe fails to function.
- Claim each foot separately; the code rates unilaterally, and two 10 percent foot ratings also feed the bilateral factor.
- If surgery left a painful scar or the toe joint is painful with motion, raise 38 CFR 4.59 and the skin codes for possible additional compensation.
Rating rules to know
Hallux valgus ratings are per foot, so bilateral bunions produce two 10 percent ratings and qualify for the bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26). Hallux rigidus (5281) is rated as severe hallux valgus and is not combined with claw foot ratings. Do not expect a separate rating for the same toe under multiple toe codes for one disability picture.
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.