7. An increased strain on the plantar fascia can lead to plantar fasciitis. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Is the tenderness improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances? Pes Planus, Aka flatfoot or flat feet is common among army veterans, air force service members, marines, and navy vets. you viewed to avoid repetition. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. For example, perhaps you entered the military with flat feet but never had plantar fasciitis. we represent clients nationwide. 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. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, long-distance running (such as military PT), poor arch and heel support (e.g., military combat boots), occupations that require a lot of standing (active duty military service, perhaps combat deployments), Heel pain (especially after standing, walking, or running), 30%: No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral, 20%: No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral. Serviceenvironments are a common cause orcontributing factorof flat feet and plantar fasciitis. The painful motion principle means that regardless of range of motion, if pain is present, the veteran should at least be awarded the minimum level of compensable disability for that condition. The highest scheduler rating for severe bilateral flat feet is 50%, whereas the highest scheduler rating for severe bilateral plantar fasciitis is 30%. As regards to the joints, factors of disability reside in reductions of their normal excursion of movements in different planes. 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. Many veterans suffer from various foot conditions, including pes planus (more commonly known as flat feet) and plantar fasciitis, and are seeking to service connect their disabilities for VA benefits. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. Yes, plantar fasciitis is a VA disability and can be rated at 10%, 20%, or 30%, depending upon unilateral (one foot) versus bilateral (both feet) and the severity of your symptoms. If you need accredited representation to guide you through your appeal for VA disability benefits for bilateral pes planus, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick may be able to help. Common examples include losing weight, wearing orthopedic shoes, wearing shoe inserts, or buying shoes with arch support. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Pes planus is normally rated with a diagnostic Code 5276 and on the other hand Plantar Fasciitis is rated under the diagnostic Code 5284. Once the form is filled out, veterans can submit the form to VA online, in person, or by mail. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 Is the marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the Achilles tendon improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances? Common examples include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, cysts, and bursitis. TDIU for Plantar Fasciitis TDIU stands for total disability individual unemployability. Flat feet can also cause problems in your ankles, knees, hips, and back because the condition can change the alignment of your legsthese are all common secondary conditions for secondary service connection. you viewed to avoid repetition. Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. In veterans with symptoms, there may be complaints of the midfoot, heels, lower legs, knees, hips, and or back pain, which can all be linked and rated as secondary conditions to flat feet. If yes, indicate the side(s) affected and if pain is accentuated on use. The maximum scheduler rating for severe bilateral pes planus (flat feet) is 50 percent. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. How are Pes Planus and Plantar Fasciitis Connected? To calculate what effect yourVA disability rating for foot pain will have on your compensation package, you can use ourVA disability calculator. Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. Does the Veteran have Functional Impact to their work, life, and social functioning? Foot and ankle injuries can also cause flat feet. Why Hire CCK for Your VA Disability Appeal? A special disability rating of 20 or 30 percent applies to veterans who received a surgical recommendation from their doctor but are not a candidate for surgery. Through the rating criteria in this code, the VA will evaluate your symptoms and give you a rating on a scale of 0% (mild disability)to 50% (pronounced disability). Plantar fasciitis can make walking and other physical activities significantly more difficult. 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5276. 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. 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. A 10 percent rating applies for cases of plantar fasciitis classified as otherwise. These cookies do not store any personal information. For a free case evaluation, reach out to CCK today at 800-544-9144 or throughthis online contact form. Although foot pain originates in the heel with plantar fasciitis, it can gravitate upwards towards the toes. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. The highest possible schedular VA disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is now 30% (not 50%), which includes symptoms such as no relief from both non-surgical (orthopedic shoes or appliances) and surgical treatment. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. If tension and stress on this bowstring become too great, small tears can occur in the fascia. A C&P exam for plantar fasciitis usually involves a physical examination and history of your foot condition and severity of symptoms over time. Finally rated at 70%. If a veteran has been recommended for surgical intervention but is not a surgical candidate, evaluate under the 20% or 30% criteria, whichever is applicable. You will need to get an outside opinion from a non-VA doctor and argue against the original examiners conclusions. In this post, Ill explain the 3 best ways to get a VA rating for flat feet along with expert-level tips for your flat feet C&P exam. Note: Diagnostic Testing is not necessary for every condition. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Pes planus is characterized by pain on manipulation and use of the feet or other foot pain as included in the higher evaluation criteria. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! You may be owed compensation. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. 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. Effective February 7, 2021, plantar fasciitis is rated under CFR 38, part 4, VA schedule of ratings, diagnostic code 5269, plantar fasciitis. If you're service-connected for both pes planus and plantar fasciitis, the VA will only count the condition with the highest rating when calculating your overall rating. 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. If you think you have a foot disorder such as pes planus (flat feet), but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA facility nearest youto make an appointment right away. ), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities (yellow calluses). 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? 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. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. However, if the veteran has actual loss of use of the foot, the rating is 40%. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? However, if you go back there might be a paper trail that ties your affliction to service-related activities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); They brought me from being stuck at 30%. The reason it is a risk is that the arch of ones foot directly acts to protect the tissue of the plantar fascia. When this occurs, the veteran applying for disability benefits will need to undergo a C & P exam. When SC is established for pes planus and plantar fasciitis, evaluate the symptoms of both conditions together under the DC warranting the highest evaluation for the combined impairment. If strained, this tissue can develop micro-tears which then cause inflammation and pain. We have updated our Privacy Policy. The VA ratesflat feetas perthe 38 CFR 4.71a, Schedule of Ratings, Musculoskeletal System,with the diagnostic code 5276. Contact Us To enhance your chances of success, you shouldalso talk to aVA disability lawyer. 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. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. A current diagnosis of plantar fasciitis; and, Medical evidence demonstrating the link between pes planus and plantar, Veterans with pronounced unilateral flat foot are rated at, Veterans with severe bilateral flat feet are rated at, Veterans with severe unilateral flat foot are rated at. A current medical diagnosis for flat feet; Evidence of an in-service event, injury, or illness; and. After reviewing the medical records, the next step is to file a VA disability benefits appeal. Is there a lower extremity deformity other than pes planus, causing alteration of the weight-bearing line? I got medical records from when I was in service for being seen for Pes Planus and Plantar Fasciitis. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! Okay, veterans lets take a minute to explore the law regarding the symptoms and impairment required to warrant a VA disability rating for plantar fasciitis. Veterans who qualify for TDIU must demonstrate they are unable to maintain gainful employment due to a 100 percent combined disability rating. 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 during your examination the VA doctor findscertain qualifying criteria, youmay be assigned a VA disability rating of 10%. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? If you are a US veteran suffering from either flat feet or plantar fasciitis that are service-connected, the VA should be paying you monthly for that disability. Research has shownthat veterans are at a much higher risk of developing these conditions. I'm at 50% for this exact disability (bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus) You can not get a separate rating for both conditions - you would get a single lumped one as u/overcookedfantasy said. The 0 percent VA disability rating for flat feet is appropriate for mild symptoms relieved by built-up shoe or arch support . They are not intended as a guarantee that we will obtain the same or similar results in every case we undertake. Pain may start in the heel and move towards the toes. The podiatrist will take X-rays and recommend the least invasive method possible for treating plantar fasciitis. C:\USCAVC_Docs\SINGLE.CVA\AlexanderHD_22-0645.pdf AlexanderHD_22-0645.pdf However, those with more severe cases may experience symptoms such as: Pes planus may also aggravate or lead to plantar fasciitis. Many veterans suffer from various foot conditions due to their military service, including severe heel pain, aka, plantar fasciitis. We invite veterans to get afree online evaluationfor your VA disability claim. The VA will outline the steps involved with appealing a C & P exam in its initial communication. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Standing for extended periods and activities such as running can often trigger symptoms of pes planus. Has Diagnostic Testing been performed? Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Unilateral means that only one foot is affected, while bilateral means that both feet have developed symptoms. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 Updated: August 18, 2021. 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. Pes planus and plantar fasciitis are two very common foot conditions that affect veterans. 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. The Department of Veterans Affairs changed its schedule of ratings for plantar fasciitis effective February 7, 2021. 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, Rheumatoid arthritis, or more commonly known as RA, is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. The 30 percent rating for pes planus is appropriate for bilateral flat feet with objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc. Repetitive stretching and tearing of the plantar facia can result in pain and inflammation. 21:30 Request a referral from your primary care or VA doctor to see a Podiatrist. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you.