Ankle Pain VA Rating: 10% or 20% (DC 5271)

What is ankle pain and how does it affect veterans?

Ankle conditions — including sprains, fractures, instability, arthritis, and limited motion — are common among veterans. Military service is notoriously hard on the ankles. Running on uneven terrain, jumping from vehicles and aircraft, parachute landings, marching with heavy loads, ankle rolls during training, and the cumulative impact of years of running in boots all take their toll. Ankle injuries are among the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries sustained during military training and operations.

Chronic ankle problems affect a veteran’s ability to walk, run, stand for extended periods, climb stairs, hike, and maintain balance on uneven surfaces. Many veterans with ankle conditions develop an altered gait — limping or favoring the injured ankle — which places abnormal stress on the knees, hips, and lower back, often leading to secondary conditions in those joints.

The VA rates limited motion of the ankle under DC 5271, with two compensable rating levels: moderate (10%) and marked (20%). However, other ankle impairments such as ankylosis, instability, and malunion of the tibia or fibula are rated under separate diagnostic codes and can sometimes be combined with the limited motion rating.

VA diagnostic code for ankle pain

Limited motion of the ankle is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5271 per 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings — Musculoskeletal System.

Other ankle-related diagnostic codes include:

• DC 5270 — Ankylosis of the ankle (20%-40%)
• DC 5272 — Ankylosis of the subastragalar or tarsal joint (10%-20%)
• DC 5273 — Malunion of the os calcis or astragalus (10%-20%)
• DC 5274 — Astragalectomy (20%)
• DC 5262 — Impairment of the tibia and fibula (nonunion with loose motion, requiring brace — 40%; malunion is evaluated under knee or ankle codes; also covers shin splints)
• DC 5003 — Degenerative arthritis (rated based on limitation of motion, or 10%-20% with X-ray evidence)

If both ankles are affected, each is rated independently, and the bilateral factor is applied to the combined rating calculation.

Rating criteria for ankle pain

Normal ankle dorsiflexion (pulling the foot upward) is 20 degrees, and normal plantar flexion (pointing the foot downward) is 45 degrees. The VA rates limitation of ankle motion at the following levels:

0% rating

Criteria: An ankle condition has been diagnosed and service-connected, but limitation of motion does not meet the criteria for a 10% rating.

Monthly payment: $0 (but establishes service connection, protecting you if the condition worsens)

Note: If you have painful motion with X-ray evidence of arthritis, you may qualify for at least 10% under DC 5003 even if your range of motion does not meet the “moderate” threshold.

10% rating — $180.42/month

Criteria: Moderate limitation of ankle motion — less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion.

What this looks like: You have noticeable restriction in your ankle’s ability to move up and down. Walking on inclines, climbing stairs, squatting, and transitioning from sitting to standing are more difficult. You may feel stiffness and pain with movement, particularly first thing in the morning or after sitting for extended periods. Your ankle may swell after prolonged use.

20% rating — $356.66/month

Criteria: Marked limitation of ankle motion — less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion.

What this looks like: Your ankle barely moves. Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion are severely restricted. Walking on anything other than flat, level surfaces is extremely difficult. You may need an ankle brace for stability. Climbing stairs requires using a handrail. Running is impossible. The ankle may be visibly swollen and stiff.

Ankle ankylosis (DC 5270)

If your ankle is fused or frozen in position (ankylosis), ratings are higher:

• 20%: Ankylosis in plantar flexion less than 30 degrees
• 30%: Ankylosis in plantar flexion between 30 and 40 degrees, or in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees
• 40%: Ankylosis in plantar flexion at more than 40 degrees, or in dorsiflexion at more than 10 degrees, or with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity

Tibia and fibula nonunion or malunion (DC 5262)

DC 5262 covers impairment of the tibia and fibula (the two lower leg bones):

• 40%: Nonunion with loose motion, requiring brace — $795.84/month
• Malunion: There are no separate malunion rating levels. Malunion is evaluated under the knee codes (DC 5256, 5257, 5260, or 5261) or the ankle codes (DC 5270 or 5271), whichever results in the highest evaluation.

What evidence do you need?

Service records

• Service treatment records documenting ankle injuries, sprains, fractures, or treatment
• Line of duty determinations for specific ankle injuries
• DD-214 showing MOS or duties involving heavy running, jumping, or airborne operations
• Records of physical profiles or duty limitations for ankle conditions
• Records of in-service ankle surgery or physical therapy

Medical evidence

• Current imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scan) showing the condition of your ankle joint
• Range of motion measurements from your treating physician
• Physical therapy records
• Surgical records if applicable
• Documentation of ankle instability testing (anterior drawer test, talar tilt test)
• Treatment records showing ongoing symptoms, swelling, and limitations
• Records of ankle braces or other assistive devices prescribed

Nexus letter

A medical opinion connecting your ankle condition to military service. The letter should reference specific service activities — running on uneven terrain, parachute landings, ankle injuries during training, years of running in military boots, vehicle jumps — that caused or contributed to your ankle condition.

Buddy statements

Statements from fellow service members who witnessed ankle injuries or can describe the physical demands that contributed to your condition. Statements from family members describing how your ankle limits daily activities — difficulty walking, inability to exercise, need for braces, problems with stairs.

Personal statement

A detailed account of how your ankle condition developed during service, what injuries or activities caused it, how it has progressed since separation, and how it currently affects your mobility, employment, and daily life.

C&P exam tips for ankle pain

What the examiner evaluates

• Range of motion (dorsiflexion and plantar flexion) measured with a goniometer
• Pain on motion — at what degree pain begins
• Additional functional loss during flare-ups and after repetitive use (DeLuca factors)
• Joint stability testing (anterior drawer, talar tilt)
• Swelling and tenderness
• Gait assessment — whether you limp or favor the ankle
• Whether you use assistive devices (ankle brace, cane, orthotics)
• Functional impact on daily activities and employment

How to prepare

1. Follow your clinician’s medication instructions. Do not stop, skip, or change prescribed medication for an exam without talking to your healthcare provider. Tell the examiner what you take, how much it helps, any side effects, and which symptoms remain. See VA’s medication-safety guidance.
2. Describe flare-ups clearly. Under DeLuca, the examiner must estimate additional limitation during flare-ups. Explain how much worse your ankle gets after prolonged use, how often flare-ups happen, and how long they last.
3. Report instability. If your ankle gives out, rolls, or feels unstable, tell the examiner explicitly. The examiner should document it, and it may support a separate rating if it causes symptoms distinct from your limitation of motion.
4. Bring your ankle brace. If you wear a brace, bring it and explain how often you wear it and why. This documents the severity of your condition.
5. Report motion and pain accurately. Follow the examiner’s instructions and explain when pain starts and how it limits movement. Tell the examiner immediately if a movement causes severe pain or feels unsafe so they can assess whether to stop or modify testing. Describe additional limitations after repeated use and during flare-ups. Initial motion, pain-related functional loss, repeated use, and flare-ups are separate parts of the assessment; one pain point or movement does not determine the entire rating.
6. Describe the impact on walking and standing. Explain how far you can walk before pain forces you to stop, how long you can stand, whether you can use stairs normally, and what surfaces you can and cannot navigate.

Common mistakes

• Not reporting ankle instability or giving-out episodes, which could support a separate rating
• Forgetting to mention that you wear an ankle brace regularly
• Not explaining how medication helps, any side effects, and symptoms that remain despite treatment
• Not describing how your ankle condition affects your gait, which is relevant to secondary conditions in the knees, hips, and back

Common secondary conditions linked to ankle pain

Ankle conditions frequently cause or worsen other conditions that can be separately rated:

• Knee pain — An altered gait from ankle dysfunction places abnormal stress on the knee joints. Limping or favoring your ankle commonly leads to knee problems, particularly in the opposite leg.
• Back pain — Limping and gait changes from ankle conditions are a well-documented cause of lumbar spine problems. The biomechanical chain from the ankle through the knee, hip, and into the spine means ankle dysfunction has far-reaching effects.
• Hip conditions — Altered gait mechanics from ankle problems frequently cause hip pain and degeneration in one or both hips.
• Depression and anxiety — Chronic pain and reduced mobility from ankle conditions significantly increase the risk of mental health conditions. Loss of the ability to exercise, hike, and engage in physical activities affects quality of life.
• Opposite ankle — Compensating for your injured ankle overloads the other one. If one ankle is service-connected, the other can be claimed as secondary if it develops problems from overuse.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your total VA disability payment depends on your combined rating across all service-connected conditions. An ankle condition combined with secondary knee and back conditions, the opposite ankle, and other disabilities can result in a combined rating much higher than the ankle rating alone. If both ankles are affected, the bilateral factor provides additional benefit in the combined rating calculation.

Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating with multiple conditions
• See how VA math applies the bilateral factor for paired extremities
• Estimate your monthly payment including dependents

For the full breakdown of payment amounts at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page.

Correction — October 21, 2026: Replaced advice to skip pain medication before the exam with guidance to follow your clinician’s instructions, and explained that motion, pain, repeated use, and flare-ups are each assessed.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.