EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Claw Foot (Pes Cavus)
DC 5278 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 |
Claw Foot (Pes Cavus) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5278 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 across 4 severity tiers (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
Abnormally high foot arch with claw-like toes, shortened plantar fascia, and painful callosities affecting weight distribution
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
DC 5278 verbatim — "Marked contraction of plantar fascia with dropped forefoot, all toes hammer toes, very painful callosities, marked varus deformity: Bilateral" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5278.)
20%
DC 5278 verbatim — "Marked contraction... marked varus deformity: Unilateral" = 20%; OR — "All toes tending to dorsiflexion, limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle to right angle, shortened plantar fascia, and marked tenderness under metatarsal heads: Bilateral" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5278.)
10%
DC 5278 verbatim — "All toes tending to dorsiflexion...: Unilateral" = 10%; OR — "Great toe dorsiflexed, some limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle, definite tenderness under metatarsal heads: Bilateral" = 10%; OR — "Great toe dorsiflexed...: Unilateral" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5278.)
0%
DC 5278 verbatim — "Slight" = 0%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5278.) Mild pes cavus without functional impairment or marked tenderness = non-compensable.
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