YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Loss of use of both feet VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Loss of use of both feet under diagnostic code 5110, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides a single evaluation under it: 100%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Loss of use of both feet
Both feet have lost all effective function. In 38 CFR 4.71a this is DC 5110, "Loss of use of both feet" — one row in the combinations-of-disabilities table, paying a single evaluation of 100 percent. It covers functional loss with the feet still present; anatomical loss of both feet is a separate entry, DC 5107, and one foot alone is DC 5167 at 40 percent.
DC 5110 is a single row in 38 CFR 4.71a's "combinations of disabilities" table: "Loss of use of both feet" at 100 percent. There is no lower tier under this code. Loss of use is a functional test, not an anatomical one: 4.71a's notes to DC 5283 and DC 5284 direct that "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent" — that 40 percent is DC 5167, "Foot, loss of use of," and it applies to one foot; DC 5110 is the entry when both feet meet the standard. Where the cause is complete traumatic paralysis, DC 5244 directs: "Paraplegia: Rate under diagnostic code 5110." Anatomical loss of both feet is rated instead under DC 5107.
- Diagnostic code
- 5110
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 100%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
There is no higher or lower step inside this code: a rating decision either finds its criteria met or it does not. Where they are not met, 38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a 0% evaluation: service connection granted, at a level that does not pay.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Loss of use of both feet VA rating criteria (DC 5110)
This condition has one published rating level. Read the criteria, then explore the details and monthly pay.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Loss of use of both feet claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Loss of use of both feet?
VA publishes its questionnaires by body system; find the one for this condition on VA's list.
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Loss of use of both feet claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim2 tips
- 01
Provide multiple specialist evaluations covering both feet independently, since establishing that both feet meet the functional-loss standard, not just one, is essential for this specific code.
- 02
Document your use of assistive devices, such as a wheelchair, since this is strong evidence of the severity this rating reflects.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
The condition being misclassified as a partial loss when it should be documented as total loss of use.
- 02
No documentation of mobility aids in use.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Missing a mobility evaluation covering both feet.
- 02
No neurologist documentation confirming the extent of the impairment.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This condition can result from a sudden traumatic event affecting both legs, or from a progressive neurological condition that gradually affects both feet.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Loss of use of both feet by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Very High
- Veterans service-connected
- ~900 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~100%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Loss of use of both feet
Is Loss of use of both feet a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Loss of use of both feet under VASRD diagnostic code 5110 (Musculoskeletal System). Both feet have lost all effective function. In 38 CFR 4.71a this is DC 5110, "Loss of use of both feet" — one row in the combinations-of-disabilities table, paying a single evaluation of 100 percent. It covers functional loss with the feet still present; anatomical loss of both feet is a separate entry, DC 5107, and one foot alone is DC 5167 at 40 percent.
What VA disability rating can I get for Loss of use of both feet?
Possible VA ratings for Loss of use of both feet are 100%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 100%: Loss of use of both feet.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Loss of use of both feet?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Loss of use of both feet at around 100%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 900 veterans are service-connected for Loss of use of both feet. Estimated approval outlook: Very High.
What evidence helps prove Loss of use of both feet for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Loss of use of both feet claim includes: Functional assessments evaluating both feet; MRI or CT imaging; Neurological reports documenting the extent of impairment.
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Loss of use of both feet?
Common pitfalls when filing for Loss of use of both feet: Missing a mobility evaluation covering both feet; No neurologist documentation confirming the extent of the impairment.
What conditions can be secondary to Loss of use of both feet?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Loss of use of both feet, when a medical opinion links them, include: Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5110)
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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