The VA rates Pes Planus (Flat Feet) using Title 38 CFR, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, Diagnostic Code (DC) 5276, Flatfoot versus Plantar Fasciitis, which is rated under DC 5269. Both of these conditions can be debilitating and cause pain in other areas such as the knees, back, and legs. The maximum disability rating is 40 percent, and the schedule of ratings is as follows: The VA also applies two special disability ratings for plantar fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is a common condition of the foot in which the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot connecting the heel bone to the toes, becomes inflamed. Sometimes the C&P examiner will order X-Rays of one or both feet to check for foot deformities such as calcified heel spurs. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. If strained, this tissue can develop micro-tears which then cause inflammation and pain. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. Other conditions linked to flat feet in a bi-directional relationship include leg length differences, pregnancy, Marfans syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and scoliosis, obesity, injuries to your foot or ankles, and diabetes. how to file a va claim for plantar fasciitis. There are generally two ways that a veteran can qualify for TDIU: Forschedular TDIU, veterans must meet the criteria listed under38 CFR 4.16a. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: CFR 38, Part 3, 3.306 Aggravation of Preservice Disability. Both of these conditions can cause severe pain and disability. A physical exam found he suffered from "severe pes planus," AR 590, and SSG Mazarji was issued Superfeet orthotic inserts, AR 590. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Service connection on a secondary basis requires a showing of causation.. Plantar fasciitis can make walking and other physical activities significantly more difficult. When these tendons do not pull properly, the foot has little or no arch, resulting in flat feet. For one or both feet, is the weight-bearing line over or medial to the great toe? 50 Percent Flat Feet VA Rating (Bilateral), 30 Percent VA Rating for Pes Planus (Unilateral), 30 Percent VA Disability Rating for Flat Feet (Bilateral), 20 Percent VA Rating for Pes Planus (Unilateral), 10 Percent Pes Planus VA Rating (Bilateral or Unilateral), 0 Percent VA Rating for Flat Feet (Bilateral or Unilateral). va rating for plantar fasciitis explained va claims insider. Note: Diagnostic Testing is not necessary for every condition. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Veterans who qualify for TDIU must demonstrate they are unable to maintain gainful employment due to a 100 percent combined disability rating. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] You're not alone. Common Ways for Secondary Conditions Over Compensation. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. The body is highly interconnected. This percent rating can apply to one or both feet. Your final VA rating for pes planus depends upon whether the condition is unilateral or bilateral as well as the severity of your symptoms in terms of frequency, severity, and duration. Most of the time, pes planus does not cause serious symptoms and treatment may not be necessary. For example, perhaps you entered the military with flat feet but never had plantar fasciitis. Youll want to explain to the C&P examiner HOW your severe heel pain is limiting or affecting your work, life, and social functioning. By using our website, you agree to the use of certain cookies. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim TheMayo Clinicreports the following risk factors associated with the development of plantar fasciitis: Sometimes doctors misdiagnose plantar heel pain or generalized foot pain as plantar fasciitis when the condition is something entirely different. The rating schedule is as follows: If a veteran has bilateral pes planus, with plantar fasciitis, they should be eligible for a 50 percent rating for their pronounced bilateral pes planus, and a 30 percent rating for their plantar fasciitis since it affects both feet. Veterans have the right to request a copy of their medical records from a C & P exam if it comes back unfavorable for establishing a primary service connection. Standing for extended periods and activities such as running can often trigger symptoms of pes planus. If both of your feet are affected, you may qualify for a VA disability rating of 30%. With actual loss of use of the foot, a 40% rating is awarded. Common causes and risk factors for developing flat feet include: Other risk factors, such asobesityand partaking in frequent high-impact physical activity, like military training, may also lead to the development of flat feet. So if I understand it correctly, you can have bilateral pes planus and get just a straight 50%, no bilateral factor added. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis 50% My supplemental claim was for bilateral pes planus, which after my QTC exam I was certain I would be rated at the pronounced bilateral rating of 50% due to my conversation with the examiner and her comments as she examined my feet. Navigating the VA disability claims system can be challenging, regardless of the specific disability. A 20 percent rating applies when the veteran meets the above requirements, but the plantar fasciitis only impacts one foot. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Success Managers having gone through our programs. If tension and stress on this bowstring become too great, small tears can occur in the fascia. Please complete this form to send us your message. Youll likely be referred from your Primary Care Doctor to a Podiatrist, who is a medical professional that specializes in the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. If yes, provide type of test or procedure, date, and results. As the nature of military service involves an intense level of physicality, specifically with regard to walking or running, many veterans experience foot conditions as the result of their service. If youre interested in the disability ratings for shin splints, go here! Additionally, people who work in professions that require long periods of time on their feet or who participate in certain forms of exercise, such as running, face an increased risk of developing pes planus or plantar fasciitis. Many veterans have or develop plantar fasciitis, and common signs and symptoms include: You may get some relief by icing, taking pain medications, wearing a brace, heel inserts in shoes, night splints, and in extreme cases, cortisone shots directly into the affected area. Plantar Fasciitis and Flat Foot VA Ratings. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Also, both unilateral and bilateral plantar fasciitis are common secondary VA disability claims, especially plantar fasciitis secondary to lower extremity conditions such as knees, joints, hips, and back. For example, if you have both severe bilateral flat feet and severe bilateral plantar fasciitis, the VA Rater should grant the 50% rating for pes planus because its the higher of the two ratings (the maximum scheduler rating for severe bilateral plantar fasciitis is 30%). His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. The new changes have separated these conditions into two rating codes meaning they can be rated individually. (pes planus), which was not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service. If yes, (there is a functional loss due to pain, during flare-ups and/or after repeated use over time), please describe the functional loss as well as cite and discuss evidence (must be specific to the case and based on all procurable evidence). If your foot problems stem from your time in service, then youneed to get the compensation you deserve. This percent rating only applies when plantar fasciitis affects both feet. 9. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. The talocalcaneal interosseous ligament, tibionavicular . List of Common Conditions Secondary to Flat Feet: Can I Get a VA Disability Rating for Flat Feet and Plantar Fasciitis? Research has shownthat veterans are at a much higher risk of developing these conditions. Also referred to as runner's heel, neuritis, or painful sole syndrome, plantar fasciitis is an often excruciating foot condition caused by inflammation in the fascia - a band of connective tissue that connects the heel bones to the toes - of the sole of your foot. Veterans can be rated between0 percentand50 percenton a scale of mild (least severe) to pronounced (most severe). The rating criteria are as follows: Flat feet among veterans can be caused by a variety of factors. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. The VA will outline the steps involved with appealing a C & P exam in its initial communication. Filing a claim for secondary service connection involves the same process as filing any claim for service connection. If so, the rating you receive for this will impact your existing rating. Depending on several factors that determine the severity of the service member's Plantar Fasciitis, they could be eligible for up to 50% coverage. 1. At VA Claims Insider, we recommend veterans get X-Rays of both feet from the VA or a private doctor to confirm or exclude the presence of heel spurs, which can contribute to the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. If youre trying to increase your VA disability rating for flat feet, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant the higher rating criteria by law. Does procured evidence (statements from the Veteran) suggest pain, fatigability, weakness, lack of endurance, or incoordination which significantly limits functional ability during flare-ups and/or after repeated use over time? These requirements include: If you are service connected for pes planus and later develop plantar fasciitis, you can file a claim for service connection on a secondary basis. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Plantar Fasciitis and Secondary VA Claims, Top 3 Ways to Get a VA Rating for Flat Feet (The Insiders Guide). If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. The VA is notorious for under rating disabilities, therefore if you have received an incorrect rating or been denied disability it is essential that you follow up. We have updated our Privacy Policy. 7. The 20 percent rating for flat feet is appropriate for unilateral pes planus with objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc. It involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes (called the Plantar Fascia). Effective February 7, 2021, plantar fasciitis has its own diagnostic code (DC) 5269 with ratings that range from 10% to 30%, with a break at 20%. Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs both cause pain in your heel, but they're different conditions. If the VA doctor makes an incorrect analysis, you are free to contest this, in which case a copy of the C&P examination will be useful. Overall, the Plantar Fasciitis VA ratings for 2020 operate on a 0% to 50% scale (including intermittent benefit percentiles at 10%, 20%, and 30%). Plantar fasciitis sufferers commonly report that pain in the bottom of their heel is most severe in the morning and then subsides as the day progresses. When this occurs, the veteran applying for disability benefits will need to undergo a C & P exam. Available to vets all over the US, we specialize in getting veterans the compensation they deserve. 24. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. If yes, indicate the side(s) affected and if pain is accentuated on use. However, certain activities that place strain on the feet can trigger or cause the symptoms. There are several common causes and risk factors that lead to plantar fasciitis, including having a tight Achilles tendon, running long distances on uneven surfaces, sudden weight gain, wearing shoes with poor arch support, and a drastic change in activity level. Plantar fasciitis is a common condition of the foot in which the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot connecting the heel bone to the toes, becomes inflamed. A 22-year-old man presented in an orthopedic clinic complaining of pain in the left plantar heel for the past month. Pes Planus is a deformed foot in which the position of the bones relative to each other has been altered, with lowering of the longitudinal arch. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. Read on to find out how to get proof that your conditionis service-related, as well as everything you need to know aboutyour VA disability rating forfoot pain. The onset of plantar fasciitis is often so gradual that people do not seek help for their foot pain until it interferes with their everyday life. While many people might have flat feet and not experience any serious symptoms or pain, others with more severe symptoms may experience: Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia, a thick band that runs across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes, becomes inflamed. List of VA Secondary Conditions to Flat Feet. What Should I Expect at a Flat Feet VA C&P Exam? Because the maximum rating for this foot injury is 40 percent, veterans applying for TDIU must have at least a 60 percent disability rating from one or more primary or secondary conditions to qualify for TDIU. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 This can strain the tissues on the bottom of the feet and worsen plantar fasciitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, Your plantar fascia is in the shape of a bowstring, supporting the arch of your foot and absorbing shock when you walk. Pes Planus is a condition of the foot in which the arches on the inside of your foot are flattened, allowing the entire sole of your foot to touch the ground when you stand up. It occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or pinched. Get a Free Consultation, VA Disability Ratings for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and Risk Factors Among Veterans, Secondary ServiceConnection for Plantar Fasciitis, Compensation and Pension Exams (C& P Exams) for Plantar Fasciitis, VADisability Ratings for Plantar Fasciitis, Contact Hill & Ponton for Additional Help with VA Disability Claims, Certain types of exercise, such as running and aerobic dancing because they put pressure on heels and the tissue attached to them, Standing or walking on hard surfaces for a majority of the day. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and preferences such as text size, fonts and other customizable website elements. Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. 16. A current medical diagnosis for flat feet; Evidence of an in-service event, injury, or illness; and. Is there objective evidence of marked deformity of one or both feet (pronation, abduction, etc.)? We advocate for the disabled. The accredited attorneys and claims agents at CCK have decades of experience successfully representing veterans before VA, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the Court of Appeal for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and we may be able to put our experience to work for you. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. If this goes through, you will be eligible to receive additional Special Monthly Compensation. ), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities (yellow calluses). [1] The arch of the foot is a tough, elastic connection of ligaments, tendons, and fascia between the forefoot and the hindfoot. As with a primary disability rating for plantar fasciitis, veterans need to present the following when applying for VA disability for a secondary service connection: Veterans who entered military service with pre-existing heel pain or foot injuries may be able to claim service connection by aggravation if their plantar fasciitis worsened. Keep in mind flat feet can also develop after an injury or from everyday wear-and-tear such as military service. The criteria for pes planus or plantar fasciitis for a 10-percent evaluation in 38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5276 include "pain on manipulation and use of the feet, unilateral or bilateral." The criteria for higher evaluations include findings such as accentuated pain on manipulation and use or extreme tenderness of the "plantar surfaces of the feet." 10. How Does VA Rate Bilateral Pes Planus with Plantar Fasciitis? Its your choice now that you know the truth and the truth will set you free. These cookies do not store any personal information. Plain or weight-bearing foot x-rays are not required to make the diagnosis of flatfoot. Veterans who receive a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis after they leave the military may be able to claim a secondary service connection if they can prove their heel pain developed or worsened due to a condition such as existing knee, hip, or back pain. To qualify for TDIU, which offers monthly compensation equal to a 100 percent rating, veterans must prove they are unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected condition(s). Ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis can help contribute to a veterans eligibility for TDIU. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. 6. Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis Shooting or stabbing pain in the bottom of foot Pain that worsens with standing Pain that can be worst in the morning Swelling in the heel How to claim secondary service connection for a VA disability, you should call us for a free review of your case, Answers to 10 Common Questions About VA Survivor Benefits, Treat your claims like its one of their own, Your weight-bearing line is over your big toe, You experience pain upon manipulation orwhen using the foot, You have inbound bowing of the Achilles tendon, Pain when the foot is used or manipulated, Swelling occurring after use of the foot or feet, Presence of characteristic callosities (calluses), Increased pain when you move or use the foot/feet, Presence of callosities (calluses) particular to plantar fasciitis, There is marked inward displacement and pronation(inward rolling of the foot), Orthopedic shoes and inserts do not provide relief or reduce the symptoms, Your Achilles tendon spasms when it is touched, A current diagnosis of your foot condition, Record of an in-service event or aggravation, A medical nexus, or link, between the in-service event and the current disability. 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