Plantar fasciitis qualifies for a VA disability rating of 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% under Diagnostic Code 5269, with the percentage depending on whether one or both feet are affected and whether the condition responds to treatment. A veteran with unresponsive, bilateral plantar fasciitis can reach 30%, and total loss of use of the foot is rated at 40%. To get rated, you need a current diagnosis, evidence of an in-service event or aggravating condition, and a medical nexus linking the two. Below is a full breakdown of the rating criteria, 2026 compensation amounts, and the claim process.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis and Why the VA Rates It
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes. It causes stabbing heel pain, especially with the first steps in the morning or after long periods of standing or marching. It is one of the most common foot conditions veterans file claims for, often tied to years of running, rucking, and standing on hard surfaces in boots.
Because plantar fasciitis can be chronic and functionally limiting, the VA created a standalone diagnostic code for it during the 2021 overhaul of the musculoskeletal rating schedule, replacing the older practice of rating it "by analogy" to flat feet (pes planus) or other foot injuries.
VA Diagnostic Code 5269 Rating Criteria
Diagnostic Code (DC) 5269 covers plantar fasciitis specifically. The rating depends on whether the condition is unilateral (one foot) or bilateral (both feet), and whether it responds to non-surgical or surgical treatment.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|
| 40% | Actual loss of use of the foot |
| 30% | Bilateral plantar fasciitis with no relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment (or surgery recommended but the veteran is not a surgical candidate) |
| 20% | Unilateral plantar fasciitis with no relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment (or surgery recommended but the veteran is not a surgical candidate) |
| 10% | Plantar fasciitis, unilateral or bilateral, that does not meet the criteria above |
Two notes shape how these ratings apply in practice. First, "no relief from treatment" generally means the condition has not improved despite documented attempts at conservative care (orthotics, physical therapy, injections, stretching protocols) and, where applicable, surgery. Second, if a doctor recommends surgery but the veteran is not medically able to undergo it, the VA still evaluates the claim under the 20% or 30% criteria rather than defaulting to the lowest rating.
Most first-time plantar fasciitis claims are rated at 10%, because most veterans have not yet undergone extensive treatment history by the time they file. Ratings above 10% typically require a longer documented treatment record showing that conservative and surgical options failed.
Bilateral Factor: Why Both Feet Matters
If you have a compensable rating for plantar fasciitis in both feet, the VA applies a "bilateral factor," adding 10% of the combined value of the two ratings before combining it with your other disabilities. This is a small but real bump that veterans with bilateral plantar fasciitis should not overlook when reviewing their combined rating.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability pay increased 2.8% effective December 1, 2025, under the annual cost-of-living adjustment. Here are the 2026 monthly rates for a veteran with no dependents at the ratings relevant to plantar fasciitis.
| Rating | Monthly Payment (Veteran Alone) |
|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
Ratings of 10% and 20% do not increase for dependents. Additional compensation for a spouse, children, or dependent parents begins at the 30% rating. If plantar fasciitis is your only service-connected condition, these are the amounts you would see. If you have other rated conditions, the VA combines them using its combined ratings table, not simple addition, so a 30% foot rating plus a 20% back rating does not equal 50%.
How to Reach a Higher Rating
Plantar fasciitis alone maxes out at 40% (loss of use of the foot), but veterans are not limited to filing this condition in isolation. Common paths to a higher overall rating include:
- Claiming it as bilateral. If both feet are affected, file for both rather than one, since separate ratings combine with the bilateral factor.
- Filing secondary conditions. Plantar fasciitis often causes or worsens gait abnormalities, which can lead to secondary claims for knee, hip, or lower back conditions. Each of these can be separately rated if a doctor connects them to your foot condition.
- Documenting functional loss. Detailed evidence of pain on movement, weakened ability to stand or walk, and flare-ups can support a higher rating within the existing criteria, particularly under 20% or 30%.
- Pursuing TDIU. If plantar fasciitis and other service-connected conditions together prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which pays at the 100% rate even if your combined schedular rating is lower, generally requiring one condition rated at 60% or more, or a combined rating of 70% with at least one condition at 40%.
What You Need to File a Claim
A successful plantar fasciitis claim generally needs three things:
- Current diagnosis. A podiatrist, orthopedist, or primary care provider must document plantar fasciitis, ideally with a clinical exam finding heel point tenderness and pain on dorsiflexion.
- In-service event, injury, or aggravation. This can be documented foot pain in service medical records, or evidence that a service-connected condition (like an ankle or knee injury) caused you to overcompensate and develop plantar fasciitis.
- Medical nexus. A statement from a doctor connecting your current diagnosis to the in-service event, using language such as "at least as likely as not" related to service. This is often the piece that determines whether a claim is approved or denied.
Step-by-Step: Filing the Claim
- Gather records. Collect service treatment records showing foot pain or related injuries, plus current medical records documenting your diagnosis.
- Get a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) or C&P exam. The VA will schedule a Compensation and Pension exam once you file. You can also submit a private DBQ completed by your own doctor.
- File the claim online. Submit VA Form 21-526EZ through VA.gov, or work with an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative for free help.
- Attend the C&P exam. Be specific about pain levels, how far you can walk before pain sets in, whether treatments have helped, and how the condition affects daily activities and work.
- Track the claim. Check status through your VA.gov account. Most claims take several months; complex claims with secondary conditions can take longer.
- Review the decision. If your rating is lower than expected or the claim is denied, you can file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Common Reasons Plantar Fasciitis Claims Get Denied or Rated Low
- No documented in-service foot pain or injury, and no medical opinion linking a post-service diagnosis back to service.
- C&P exam findings that describe the condition as mild or intermittent rather than chronic.
- Missing treatment history, which makes it hard to prove the condition is unresponsive to treatment for a 20% or 30% rating.
- Failure to file for both feet when both are actually affected, resulting in a single unilateral rating instead of two.
Keeping a symptom log, following through on prescribed treatment, and getting clear statements from your treating provider all strengthen a claim before it goes to a rater.
Check What Else You May Qualify For
VA disability compensation is one of several benefits available to veterans and their households, and a service-connected rating can affect eligibility for other assistance programs, including Medicaid, SNAP, and health coverage subsidies. Use the free Benefits Navigator screener to see what federal and state programs you and your family may qualify for based on your income, household size, and situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA diagnostic code for plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is rated under Diagnostic Code 5269, a standalone code created during the VA's 2021 update to the musculoskeletal rating schedule. Before that update, plantar fasciitis was typically rated by analogy under DC 5276 (flatfoot) or DC 5284 (other foot injuries).
Can you get a 100% VA rating for plantar fasciitis alone?
No. The maximum schedular rating under DC 5269 is 40%, reserved for actual loss of use of the foot. Veterans who cannot work due to plantar fasciitis combined with other service-connected conditions may still reach 100% compensation through TDIU rather than a schedular rating.
Does plantar fasciitis in both feet get rated separately?
Yes. If both feet meet the criteria for a compensable rating, the VA rates each foot separately and then applies the bilateral factor, which adds 10% of the combined value of both ratings before combining them with the rest of your disabilities.
What secondary conditions can be claimed with plantar fasciitis?
Common secondary conditions include knee pain, hip pain, and lower back conditions caused by an altered gait from favoring the painful foot. A doctor's opinion linking the secondary condition to your service-connected plantar fasciitis is required for the VA to grant a separate rating.
How much does a 30% VA disability rating pay in 2026?
A veteran alone with a 30% combined disability rating receives $552.47 per month in 2026, following the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment that took effect December 1, 2025. Additional amounts apply if you have a dependent spouse, children, or dependent parents.
Do I need surgery to get a 20% or 30% rating for plantar fasciitis?
Not necessarily. The criteria require no relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, but if a doctor recommends surgery and you are not a surgical candidate, the VA still evaluates your claim under the 20% or 30% criteria instead of requiring you to undergo surgery first.
