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Rating guide · Feet

Feet Claims: Flat Feet & Plantar Fasciitis

Combat boots, long ruck marches and hard hangar floors wear feet down. Flat feet and plantar fasciitis each have their own VA ratings, and flat feet noted when you joined can still count.

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Flat feet levels
Plantar fasciitis levels
Pre-existing feet
Gait-related claims

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Service connection

Noted at Enlistment? It’s Not Over

Flat feet listed on your entrance exam count as pre-existing. They can still be service-connected if service aggravated them, meaning made them worse than they would have gotten naturally. Training, long marches and heavy loads are the usual reasons, and sick-call visits for foot pain help prove it.

If your feet weren’t noted at entry, you’re presumed to have entered in sound condition, which makes direct connection simpler.

38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5276

Flat Feet Rating Levels

Current as of October 2026. Monthly amounts are in the pay chart on our calculator page.
Rating	VA criteria
50%	Pronounced, bilateral (30% unilateral): 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.
30%	Severe, bilateral (20% unilateral): objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities.
10%	Moderate, bilateral or unilateral: weight-bearing line over or medial to great toe, inward bowing of the tendo achillis, pain on manipulation and use of the feet.
0%	Mild: symptoms relieved by built-up shoe or arch support.

38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5269

Plantar Fasciitis Rating Levels

Current as of October 2026. Actual loss of use of the foot rates 40%. If surgery is recommended but you aren’t a candidate, the 20% or 30% levels apply.
Rating	VA criteria
30%	No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral.
20%	No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral.
10%	Otherwise, unilateral or bilateral.

Up the chain

When Your Feet Affect Everything Else

Painful feet change the way you walk, which can lead to knee, hip and back conditions. With a medical opinion, those can be claimed as secondary to your service-connected feet.

FAQ

Flat Feet VA Rating: Common Questions

Can I claim flat feet that were noted when I enlisted?

Yes, through aggravation, if service made them worse beyond their natural progression.

My arch supports help. Does that matter?

If inserts or built-up shoes relieve your symptoms, flat feet rate 0%. Higher ratings reflect symptoms that persist despite them.

Can both flat feet and plantar fasciitis be rated?

They have separate codes, but the VA won’t compensate the same symptoms twice. It depends on whether each causes distinct problems.

Can foot problems lead to other claims?

Yes. With a medical opinion, knee, hip and back conditions caused by an altered gait can be secondary claims.

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