Plantar fasciitis DC 5269
VA rates it under diagnostic code 5269 in 38 CFR 4.71a. Body system: Legs & feet.
Also searched as: heel pain.
How VA rates it
The schedule allows 4 rating levels for this code: 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. VA picks the level whose criteria best match your symptoms and records.
It affects one leg, so each side is rated on its own. When both sides are rated, VA adds the bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26).
Source: 38 CFR 4.71a on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 30% | No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral |
| 20% | No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral |
| 10% | Otherwise, unilateral or bilateral |
| 40% | Note (1): With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percenttrue |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.71a, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Notes in the schedule (2)
Note (1): With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent
Note (2): If a veteran has been recommended for surgical intervention, but is not a surgical candidate, evaluate under the 20 percent or 30 percent criteria, whichever is applicable
Conditions it can lead to
If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.
Hip (limited flexion) DC 5252 Possible link
Heel pain makes you shift weight when you walk, and uneven loading of the feet is linked with later hip pain.
What to gather: A diagnosis of the second joint and a medical opinion explaining how the first condition changed the way you walk or carry weight.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Asymmetric plantar loading during gait and later knee and hip pain in older adults (Clin Biomech, 2026)
Knee (limited flexion) DC 5260 Possible link
Heel pain makes you shift weight when you walk, and uneven loading of the feet is linked with later knee pain.
What to gather: A diagnosis of the second joint and a medical opinion explaining how the first condition changed the way you walk or carry weight.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Asymmetric plantar loading during gait and later knee and hip pain in older adults (Clin Biomech, 2026)
Commonly claimed as secondary to
If one of these is already service connected, you may be able to claim this condition as secondary to it.
Flat feet (pes planus) DC 5276 Possible link
Flat feet strain the tissue along the bottom of the foot, which can lead to plantar fasciitis.
What to gather: A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and a medical opinion linking it to your flat feet. Note that VA may rate both under one foot rating if the symptoms overlap.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); 38 CFR 4.71a
Check your claim
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
Not affiliated with the VA. VA decides ratings. Free help from an accredited VSO is available at no cost.