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Rating guide · Feet

Flat Feet & Plantar Fasciitis: Ratings That Start at the Ground

Boots, rucks, and years standing on flight lines and shop floors wear down feet. Flat feet and plantar fasciitis are both ratable, and flat feet noted when you enlisted can still qualify.

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Flat feet criteria
Plantar fasciitis criteria
Aggravation of pre-existing
Knee, hip & back links

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38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5276

Flat Feet (Pes Planus) Criteria

Higher ratings depend on deformity, pain and swelling that persist even with shoes or inserts. Bilateral and one-foot ratings differ.

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 Criteria

Current as of October 2026. Actual loss of use of the foot is rated 40%. If surgery is recommended but you’re not a candidate, the 20% or 30% criteria 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.

Service connection

Flat Feet on Your Entrance Exam? It May Still Count

If your enlistment exam noted flat feet, the VA treats them as pre-existing. They can still be service-connected through aggravation: service made them worse beyond their natural progression. Training, marching, carrying loads, and long hours on hard surfaces are the usual culprits, and records of foot complaints during service help show it.

If flat feet weren’t noted at entry, you’re generally presumed to have entered service with healthy feet, which makes direct service connection simpler.

Feet affect everything above them

Painful feet change your gait, and that can lead to knee, hip and back conditions that can be claimed as secondary.

FAQ

Flat Feet VA Rating: Common Questions

Can I claim flat feet I had before I enlisted?

Yes, if service made them worse beyond their natural progression. The VA compensates that increase as aggravation.

My inserts help. Does that limit my rating?

If symptoms are relieved by arch supports or built-up shoes, flat feet are rated 0%. Higher ratings reflect pain, swelling and deformity that continue despite them.

Can flat feet and plantar fasciitis both be rated?

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

Can foot problems make my knees or back service-connected?

Yes, with a medical opinion showing the foot condition changed your gait and caused or worsened the knee, hip or back problem.

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