EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Ankle Instability (Chronic)
DC 5271 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5271 |
Ankle Instability (Chronic) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5271 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5271 across 3 severity tiers (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
Chronic lateral ankle instability from repeated sprains with ligament laxity, causing recurrent giving way and difficulty on uneven surfaces
RATING CRITERIA (3 LEVELS)
20%
DC 5271 "Ankle, limited motion of: Marked (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion)" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5271.) Chronic instability with secondary marked ROM loss from guarding / arthritis.
10%
DC 5271 "Ankle, limited motion: Moderate (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion)" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-major-joint fallback (ankle is one major joint per § 4.45) with painful motion at lateral ankle / positive anterior drawer test / talar tilt >5° = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Documented chronic ankle instability (positive anterior drawer / talar tilt) without compensable ROM under DC 5271 (dorsiflexion ≥15° AND plantar flexion ≥30°) AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion findings. Note: even with normal ROM, instability frequently warrants 10% via DC 5003 painful-motion fallback when palpable laxity is documented.
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