EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Morton's Neuroma
DC 5279 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5279 |
Morton's Neuroma is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5279 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5279 across 2 severity tiers (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
Thickened nerve tissue (neuroma) between the metatarsal heads causing sharp, burning pain and numbness in the toes
RATING CRITERIA (2 LEVELS)
10%
DC 5279 verbatim — "Metatarsalgia, anterior (Morton's disease), unilateral, or bilateral" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5279.) The rating is FLAT — same 10% whether unilateral or bilateral.
0%
Diagnosed Morton's neuroma without compensable symptoms (no documented forefoot pain on weight-bearing, no positive Mulder click, no electrophysiologic confirmation of interdigital nerve compression). Rare for symptomatic Morton's to be 0%.
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