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.
How the VA rates it
DC 5269 (added February 2021) rates plantar fasciitis on treatment response rather than measurements: 10 percent for typical cases (one foot or both), rising to 20 percent (one foot) or 30 percent (both feet) when neither non-surgical NOR surgical treatment has provided relief. By regulation note, a veteran who has been recommended for surgery but is not a surgical candidate is rated under the 20 or 30 percent criteria without having had surgery. If plantar fasciitis causes actual loss of use of the foot, it is rated 40 percent.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 40%Actual loss of use of the foot (per Note 1 to DC 5269).
No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, both feet affected.
No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, one foot affected.
All other cases, whether one foot or both feet are affected.
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.
- Limited Motion of the Ankle — Gait changes to avoid heel pain can stress and stiffen the ankle.
- Limitation of Knee Flexion — Chronic heel-avoiding gait alters knee loading up the kinetic chain.
- Lumbosacral Strain — Years of antalgic gait from foot pain can aggravate the low back.
This is often secondary to
If you already have one of these service-connected, it may support connecting this condition.
- Flat Feet (Pes Planus) — Fallen arches increase strain on the plantar fascia; plantar fasciitis is one of the most common secondaries to service-connected pes planus.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- Document every treatment tried and failed: orthotics, night splints, stretching, physical therapy, injections, shockwave, surgery. 'No relief from treatment' is the literal difference between 10 and 20/30 percent.
- If a podiatrist recommended surgery but you cannot have it (health reasons, risk), get that in writing; the regulation rates non-candidates at the higher tiers.
- Make clear whether one or both feet are affected; the 30 percent tier requires bilateral involvement.
- Tie onset to service activities: rucking, running, prolonged standing on hard surfaces, and in-service podiatry visits all strengthen the nexus.
Rating rules to know
The 10 percent tier already covers unilateral or bilateral disease, so a single 10 percent rating is not doubled for two feet. Plantar fasciitis rated under 5269 should not be double-counted with a pes planus rating under 5276 based on the same foot pain; distinct manifestations are required. As a foot disability, ratings for both lower extremities feed the bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26).
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%
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.
Rated up to 20%
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.