What are the VA rating percentages for Turf Toe (Chronic)?

Turf Toe (Chronic) (DC 5280) is rated at 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280. Operated with resection of metatarsal head. OR — Severe, if equivalent to amputation of great toe.

What rates 10% for Turf Toe (Chronic) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280 (DC 5280), a 10% rating for Turf Toe (Chronic) requires: Operated with resection of metatarsal head. OR — Severe, if equivalent to amputation of great toe.

What happens during a C&P exam for Turf Toe (Chronic)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

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Turf Toe (Chronic)

Q: What rates 0% for Turf Toe (Chronic) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280 (DC 5280), a 0% rating for Turf Toe (Chronic) requires: Less than severe — schedularly noncompensable under DC 5280. Per § 4.59, painful motion with X-ray pathology supports 10% single-joint floor under DC 5003.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Turf Toe (Chronic) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Turf Toe (Chronic) claim includes: 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. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 5280 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280 | 

✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.71a (Musculoskeletal system) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team

Turf Toe (Chronic) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5280 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5280 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

Chronic sprain of the first metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate causing persistent big toe pain with push-off and running

RATING CRITERIA (2 LEVELS)

10%

Operated with resection of metatarsal head. OR — Severe, if equivalent to amputation of great toe.

Less than severe — schedularly noncompensable under DC 5280. Per § 4.59, painful motion with X-ray pathology supports 10% single-joint floor under DC 5003.

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.

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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.

→ View § 4.71a on eCFR → Cornell Law mirror → Editorial Standards → Suggest a correction

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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