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Ankle Osteoarthritis
DC 5003 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5003 |
Ankle Osteoarthritis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5003 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5003 across 5 severity tiers (40% / 30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Degenerative joint disease of the ankle with cartilage loss, bone spurs, and progressive stiffness reducing dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5270 "Ankle, ankylosis of: In plantar flexion at more than 40°, or in dorsiflexion at more than 10° or with abduction, adduction, inversion or eversion deformity" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5270.) The most severe ankle ankylosis tier — significant fixed deformity making weight-bearing painful or impossible.
30%
DC 5270 "Ankle, ankylosis of: In plantar flexion, between 30° and 40°, or in dorsiflexion, between 0° and 10°" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5270.)
20%
DC 5270 "Ankle, ankylosis of: In plantar flexion, less than 30°" = 20%; DC 5271 "Ankle, limited motion of: Marked (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion)" = 20%; DC 5272 "Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis of: In poor weight-bearing position" = 20%; DC 5273 "Os calcis or astragalus, malunion of: Marked deformity" = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2 or more major joints, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) Per NOTE 1, X-ray-only does NOT combine with ROM-based.
10%
DC 5271 "Ankle, limited motion of: Moderate (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion)" = 10%; DC 5272 "Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis: In good weight-bearing position" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-major-joint fallback (ankle is one major joint) with objectively-confirmed painful-motion / swelling / muscle-spasm = 10%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2 or more major joints" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5003 / DC 5271-5272.)
0%
X-ray-confirmed ankle arthritis without compensable ROM under DC 5271 (dorsiflexion ≥15° AND plantar flexion ≥30°) AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion / swelling / muscle-spasm findings AND without 2+ major joints involved.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026