EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
← All Condition GuidesCLAIM RECON INTEL
Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc)
DC 5283 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 |
Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5283 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 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
Post-traumatic arthritis in the tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joints of the midfoot causing pain with push-off, standing, and walking
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5283 NOTE: "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent." (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283 NOTE.) End-stage Lisfranc arthritis with foot non-functional for weight-bearing.
30%
DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Severe" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) Marked midfoot deformity with severe functional impact (e.g., gross collapse of medial longitudinal arch + chronic gait alteration).
20%
DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Moderately severe" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) Documented midfoot malunion with moderately-severe functional impact (limp, requiring orthotics).
10%
DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Moderate" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback for symptomatic midfoot arthritis (multiple TMT joints constitute a minor joint group per § 4.45) with painful motion / swelling = 10%.
0%
Midfoot arthritis (X-ray-confirmed) without compensable malunion findings AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion findings.
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