Plantar Fasciitis VA Rating 2026: DC 5269 Criteria

What is plantar fasciitis and how does it affect veterans?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia — the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot connecting the heel bone to the toes. It causes stabbing pain in the heel and arch, typically worst with the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest. The condition develops when repeated stress and micro-tears damage the fascia, leading to chronic inflammation and degeneration.

Military service is a significant risk factor for plantar fasciitis. Years of running on hard surfaces, marching in military boots with inadequate arch support, standing for extended periods during formations and duty rotations, carrying heavy rucksacks that increase foot loading, and the general high-impact nature of military physical training all contribute to breaking down the plantar fascia. Many veterans develop symptoms during service that persist or worsen after separation.

Plantar fasciitis affects daily life in profound ways. Walking becomes painful, especially first thing in the morning. Standing for any length of time causes increasing heel and arch pain. Exercise and physical recreation become difficult or impossible. Many veterans find that their plantar fasciitis leads to gait changes that cause secondary problems in the knees, hips, and lower back — a cascade of musculoskeletal issues that traces back to the feet.

VA diagnostic code for plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5269 (plantar fasciitis) per 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings — Musculoskeletal System. Because plantar fasciitis has its own diagnostic code, the VA does not need to rate it by analogy to another foot condition.

DC 5269 focuses on two questions: how well your plantar fasciitis has responded to treatment, and whether one or both feet are affected.

Rating criteria for plantar fasciitis (DC 5269)

The VA rates plantar fasciitis at three schedular levels, plus a 40% rating for actual loss of use of the foot. Bilateral (both feet) conditions receive a higher rating only at the level where treatment has failed.

10% rating — $180.42/month

Criteria: “Otherwise, unilateral or bilateral” — plantar fasciitis in one or both feet that does not meet the 20% or 30% criteria.

What this looks like: You have plantar fasciitis that causes heel and arch pain, but you have not yet exhausted both non-surgical and surgical treatment, or treatment has provided some relief. This level applies whether one foot or both feet are affected.

20% rating — Unilateral, no relief from treatment — $356.66/month

Criteria: No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral.

What this looks like (one foot): You have tried conservative care such as orthotics, physical therapy, or injections and have also had surgery, and your symptoms in one foot have not been relieved.

30% rating — Bilateral, no relief from treatment — $552.47/month

Criteria: No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral.

What this looks like: Both feet have plantar fasciitis that has not been relieved by both non-surgical and surgical treatment.

If surgery was recommended but you are not a candidate: Under Note (2) to DC 5269, if a veteran has been recommended for surgical intervention but is not a surgical candidate, the VA evaluates under the 20% or 30% criteria, whichever applies.

40% rating — Actual loss of use of the foot — $795.84/month

Criteria: Under Note (1) to DC 5269, “with actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent.”

What this looks like: Under 38 CFR § 4.63, loss of use of a foot means no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump below the knee with a suitable prosthesis. This is a high bar that few plantar fasciitis claims meet.

What evidence do you need?

Service records

• Service treatment records documenting foot pain, heel pain, or plantar fasciitis diagnosis during service
• Records of in-service treatment such as orthotics, physical therapy, or steroid injections
• DD-214 showing MOS involving extensive running, marching, or standing (infantry, military police, airborne)
• Physical profiles or duty limitations for foot conditions
• Documentation of the type of boots or footwear you were issued and required to wear

Medical evidence

• Current diagnosis of plantar fasciitis from a treating physician
• Imaging (X-rays showing heel spurs, MRI showing fascia thickening or tears)
• Treatment records documenting the progression of your condition
• Records of all treatments tried (orthotics, physical therapy, injections, surgery)
• Documentation of objective findings: tenderness, swelling, calluses, structural changes

Nexus letter

A medical opinion connecting your plantar fasciitis to military service. The letter should explain how specific service demands — running in combat boots, marching with heavy loads, standing on hard surfaces for extended periods — caused repetitive stress to your plantar fascia. If your symptoms began or were documented during service, the nexus becomes significantly stronger.

Buddy statements

Statements from fellow service members who can describe the physical demands you shared — the running, marching, and prolonged standing. Statements from family members describing how your foot pain limits daily activities: difficulty walking in the morning, inability to stand for long periods, avoidance of physical activities you once enjoyed, and the impact on your work and quality of life.

Personal statement

A detailed statement describing when your foot pain began, how it progressed during and after service, what treatments you’ve tried, and how it affects your daily life. Include specifics: how many minutes you can stand before pain becomes severe, how far you can walk, what activities you’ve had to give up, and how your morning pain routine affects your day.

C&P exam tips for plantar fasciitis

What the examiner evaluates

• Location and severity of pain on palpation of the plantar surface
• Non-surgical treatments you have tried (orthotics, physical therapy, injections, night splints) and whether they relieved your symptoms
• Whether you have had surgery, or had surgery recommended, and the result
• Whether you are a candidate for surgery if it has been recommended
• Whether there is actual loss of use of the foot
• Functional impact on standing and walking
• Whether the condition is unilateral or bilateral

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. Wear your orthotics to the exam — but explain their limitations. Bring your orthotics and any specialized footwear to show the examiner, but clearly explain how much (or how little) they actually help.
3. Describe your morning routine. Plantar fasciitis is characteristically worse with first steps. Explain exactly how the morning pain affects you — how long it takes to subside, whether it ever fully goes away.
4. Explain your treatment history clearly. The 20% and 30% ratings depend on whether both non-surgical and surgical treatment have failed. If surgery was recommended but you were told you are not a candidate, say so and bring the record.
5. Describe both feet. If both feet are affected, make sure the examiner evaluates and documents both. Bilateral plantar fasciitis without relief from treatment is rated 30%, compared to 20% for one foot.
6. Document failed treatments. Bring a list of everything you’ve tried — inserts, orthotics, physical therapy, injections, night splints — and explain what helped and what didn’t.

Common mistakes

• Pushing through pain during the exam instead of honestly reporting when and where it hurts
• Failing to mention that both feet are affected
• Not bringing documentation of failed treatments
• Not explaining how medication helps, any side effects, and symptoms that remain despite treatment
• Not describing the functional impact on daily activities and employment

Common secondary conditions linked to plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis frequently causes or aggravates other conditions that can be separately rated:

• Back pain — Altered gait from foot pain changes spinal mechanics and places abnormal stress on the lumbar spine. Many veterans with chronic plantar fasciitis develop lower back problems from years of compensatory walking patterns.
• Knee pain — The same gait changes that affect the back also stress the knees. Limping or walking differently to avoid foot pain overloads the knee joints.
• Hip conditions — Altered biomechanics from foot pain travel up the kinetic chain, frequently causing hip pain and degeneration.
• Depression and anxiety — Chronic pain and loss of mobility significantly increase the risk of mental health conditions. The inability to exercise, walk comfortably, or participate in physical activities affects overall well-being.
• Opposite foot — If one foot is more severely affected, compensating by favoring the other foot can worsen or create plantar fasciitis in that foot as well.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your total payment depends on your combined rating. DC 5269 rates both feet together: 30% for both feet or 20% for one foot when neither non-surgical nor surgical treatment brings relief, and 10% for one or both feet otherwise. VA’s claims manual (M21-1) adds the bilateral factor to that evaluation only if you also have a separate compensable rating for one of your legs, or for both arms.

Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating including foot conditions and secondary disabilities
• Use VA math to review separately ratable extremity disabilities and whether the bilateral factor applies to your facts
• 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. Replaced a general bilateral-factor statement with DC 5269’s one-foot and both-feet criteria and the claims manual’s bilateral-factor rule.

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.