EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Stress Fracture (Metatarsal)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.71a (Musculoskeletal system) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Stress Fracture (Metatarsal) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5283 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 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
Stress fracture in the metatarsal bones of the foot from repetitive impact, common in military marching and running activities
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
Severe — significant deformity of metatarsal alignment, marked pain on weight-bearing, antalgic gait, callosity formation at altered weight-bearing point, refractory to conservative management.
20%
Moderately severe — documented metatarsal malunion or nonunion with pain on use, callosities, altered weight-bearing pattern.
10%
Moderate — documented metatarsal malunion or nonunion with intermittent pain on use, mild functional limitation.
0%
Slight — healed metatarsal stress fracture without malunion, nonunion, or residual functional impairment.
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 text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a (Musculoskeletal system). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026