Musculoskeletal System§ 4.71aUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5276Flatfoot, acquired:

Rated from 0% to 50% under § 4.71a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.

  1. 50%

    Pronounced; marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation, not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances: Bilateral

  2. 30%

    Pronounced; marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation, not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances: Unilateral

  3. 30%

    Severe; objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities: Bilateral

  4. 20%

    Severe; objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities: Unilateral

  5. 10%

    Moderate; weight-bearing line over or medial to great toe, inward bowing of the tendo achillis, pain on manipulation and use of the feet, bilateral or unilateral

  6. 0%

    Mild; symptoms relieved by built-up shoe or arch support

Acquired Flatfoot (Pes Planus) — VA Disability Rating

Diagnostic Code 5276 · 38 CFR § 4.71a · Musculoskeletal System

What Is Acquired Flatfoot?

Acquired flatfoot, also known as pes planus, is a condition affecting the feet in which the natural arch is lowered or collapsed. Under the VA rating schedule, this condition is evaluated based on its severity, the symptoms present, and whether it affects one foot (unilateral) or both feet (bilateral).

The VA assigns a disability rating according to how the condition presents on examination and how it responds to treatment measures such as orthopedic shoes, arch supports, or built-up shoes.

Available Rating Levels

The VA rates acquired flatfoot under Diagnostic Code 5276 at the following levels:

RatingHow It AppliesDescription
50%BilateralPronounced condition
30%UnilateralPronounced condition
30%BilateralSevere condition
20%UnilateralSevere condition
10%Bilateral or UnilateralModerate condition
0%—Mild condition

What the VA Looks For

The VA reviews specific findings when evaluating the severity of acquired flatfoot:

Pronounced (50% Bilateral / 30% Unilateral)

  • Marked pronation
  • Extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces of the feet
  • Marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation
  • Not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances

Severe (30% Bilateral / 20% Unilateral)

  • Objective evidence of marked deformity (such as pronation or abduction)
  • Pain on manipulation and use that is accentuated
  • Indication of swelling on use
  • Characteristic callosities

Moderate (10% Bilateral or Unilateral)

  • Weight-bearing line over or medial to the great toe
  • Inward bowing of the tendo achillis
  • Pain on manipulation and use of the feet

Mild (0%)

  • Symptoms relieved by a built-up shoe or arch support

This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5276. Individual ratings depend on the specific findings documented in your case.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5276. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. Find your level in the stack

    Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.

  2. Name the gap

    Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 5276 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Musculoskeletal System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

Find out which rating your evidence supports.

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