VASRD 5269 · Musculoskeletal
Plantar Fasciitis VA Disability Rating
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation and degeneration of the plantar fascia, the thick band running from the heel to the toes, producing the classic sharp heel pain on the first steps of the morning. Since February 7, 2021 it has had its own diagnostic code — DC 5269 — instead of being rated by analogy to tenosynovitis, and the percentage turns on whether one foot or both are affected and on whether treatment has failed.
VA Rating Tiers
How the VA Evaluates Plantar Fasciitis
DC 5269 is a code VA created on February 7, 2021; before that date plantar fasciitis had no code of its own and was rated by analogy, most often under DC 5024 (tenosynovitis) or DC 5276 (acquired flatfoot). The current criteria have only three rungs and two variables. 30 percent: "No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral." 20 percent: "No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral." 10 percent: "Otherwise, unilateral or bilateral" — so a diagnosed, service-connected plantar fasciitis that has not exhausted treatment is a flat 10 percent whether it affects one foot or both, and bilateral involvement alone does not lift it. Note (2) supplies the one route to a compensable step above 10 without having had surgery: "If a veteran has been recommended for surgical intervention, but is not a surgical candidate, evaluate under the 20 percent or 30 percent criteria, whichever is applicable." Note (1) sets a ceiling case: "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent." Because the ladder turns on documented treatment failure rather than on range of motion, the decisive evidence is the treatment record — orthotics, night splints, stretching, physical therapy, corticosteroid injection, extracorporeal shockwave therapy and any fascia release — and whether each one relieved the pain. Note also that the bilateral factor of 38 CFR 4.26 applies where both feet are separately compensable.
Approval outlook
High – if consistent pain and orthotic treatment are documented.
Veterans service-connected
~10,800 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~10%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •A treatment record that names every non-surgical measure tried — orthotics, night splint, stretching programme, physical therapy, injections — and states in each case whether it gave relief, because the 20 and 30 percent criteria are written as treatment failure, not as severity.
- •Operative reports for any plantar fascia release or other surgery, and the post-operative outcome, since both non-surgical AND surgical treatment must have failed for the 20 or 30 percent level.
- •Where surgery was recommended but declined by the surgeon, a note saying the veteran is not a surgical candidate — Note (2) makes that the equivalent of surgical failure.
- •Documentation of whether one foot or both are involved, which is the only difference between the 20 and 30 percent criteria.
- •A podiatrist's diagnosis, with ultrasound or MRI showing plantar fascia thickening, and service records of the running, road-marching, load-carrying or prolonged standing that caused it.
Strategy Tips
- •Submit podiatry notes that specifically show your response to orthotic treatment, since whether orthotics help or don't help is what separates the two rating tiers.
- •Describe how the condition limits daily activity, standing, or walking, since functional impact adds important context to the clinical diagnosis.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •No documentation of pain severity in the record.
- •No trial of orthotics noted, which is directly relevant to which rating tier applies.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Omitting orthotic or physical therapy attempts from your evidence, since treatment response is a specific rating factor for this code.
- •Not linking the foot pain to specific service duties (like prolonged standing, marching, or running) that could explain its onset.
Onset Patterns
- •Plantar fasciitis classically starts as heel pain that's worse in the morning or after standing, improves somewhat with rest, and then worsens again with activity.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Plantar Fasciitis. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Heel Spurs
Chronic fasciitis can lead to bone growth
Common questions about Plantar Fasciitis
- Is Plantar Fasciitis a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Plantar Fasciitis under VASRD diagnostic code 5269 (Musculoskeletal). Plantar fasciitis is inflammation and degeneration of the plantar fascia, the thick band running from the heel to the toes, producing the classic sharp heel pain on the first steps of the morning. Since February 7, 2021 it has had…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Plantar Fasciitis?
- Possible VA ratings for Plantar Fasciitis are 30%, 20%, 10%. Examples: 30%: Both feet, and neither conservative treatment nor surgery gave relief; 20%: One foot, and neither conservative treatment nor surgery gave relief; 10%: Diagnosed plantar fasciitis in one or both feet that does not meet the treatment-failure cri…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Plantar Fasciitis?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Plantar Fasciitis at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 10,800 veterans are service-connected for Plantar Fasciitis. Estimated approval outlook: High – if consistent pain and orthotic treatment are documented.
- What evidence helps prove Plantar Fasciitis for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Plantar Fasciitis claim includes: A treatment record that names every non-surgical measure tried — orthotics, night splint, stretching programme, physical therapy, injections — and states in each case whether it gave relief, because the 20 and 30 percent criteria are written as treatment failure,…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Plantar Fasciitis?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Plantar Fasciitis: Omitting orthotic or physical therapy attempts from your evidence, since treatment response is a specific rating factor for this code.; Not linking the foot pain to specific service duties (like prolonged standing, marching, or running) that could explain its onset..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Plantar Fasciitis?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Plantar Fasciitis include: Heel Spurs. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a — Schedule of ratings — musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5269)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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