EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Heel Spur / Plantar Fasciitis
DC 5269 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5269 (Plantar fasciitis — added by 2021-02-07 amendment for explicit rating of this previously rate-by-analogy condition) |
Heel Spur / Plantar Fasciitis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5269 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5269 (Plantar fasciitis — added by 2021-02-07 amendment for explicit rating of this previously rate-by-analogy condition) 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
Bony calcium deposit (spur) on the calcaneus (heel bone) causing chronic heel pain with weight-bearing and walking
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5269 NOTE 1 verbatim — "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent." (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5269 NOTE 1.) End-stage plantar fasciitis with foot non-functional for weight-bearing.
30%
DC 5269 verbatim — "Plantar fasciitis: No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5269.) Per NOTE 2: "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" — so non-candidate-for-surgery patients can reach this tier without actually having surgery.
20%
DC 5269 verbatim — "Plantar fasciitis: No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral" = 20%. Per NOTE 2: non-candidate-for-surgery patients with severe symptoms may also rate at this tier. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5269.)
10%
DC 5269 verbatim — "Plantar fasciitis: Otherwise, unilateral or bilateral" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5269.) Catch-all 10% for symptomatic plantar fasciitis not meeting the 20%/30% no-relief-from-surgery criteria.
0%
Heel-spur diagnosed radiographically without documented painful plantar fasciitis symptoms. Asymptomatic incidental heel spurs do not warrant compensable rating.
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