Bunions — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Bunions
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960M-6 (Foot Conditions, Including Flatfoot (Pes Planus)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Bunions — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Bunions, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Bunions
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5280 (hallux valgus). Maximum schedular rating is 10 percent per foot.. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Hallux valgus that is present but not operated with resection of the metatarsal head and not severe (not equivalent to amputation of the great toe): noncompensable.
Hallux valgus operated with resection of the metatarsal head; or severe, if equivalent to amputation of the great toe. This is the maximum schedular rating for a bunion (per foot).
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Bunions raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Bunions claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2022 · PMID 35353079
Finding: In a retrospective study of 64 active-duty servicemembers who underwent hallux valgus (bunion) correction, only 28% (18 of 64) returned to full military duty by 1 year, as measured by completing a timed 1.5- to 2-mile run; all patients had functionally limiting pain that failed 4-6 months of footwear, orthotics, and activity modification before surgery.
Why it helps: Supports an association between bunion deformity and significant, duty-limiting functional impairment in service members, and documents that the condition often persists and limits running/physical fitness despite conservative care.
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics, 2025 · PMID 41321349
Finding: Among 18 active-duty service members treated for mild-to-moderate hallux valgus, Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores improved from 57.0 to 95.0 (P < .001) with radiographic correction of the hallux valgus angle (25.5 to 12.0 degrees), and 13 of 18 remained on active duty at a median 13-month follow-up.
Why it helps: Supports that hallux valgus is recognized and surgically managed within the active-duty military population and can severely limit physical function in service, reinforcing its clinical relevance to a veteran's service history.
- Hallux ValgusDirect
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics, 2019 · PMID 35097321
Finding: This review identifies predisposing factors for hallux valgus including female sex, age, constricting footwear, and family history, and notes that pes planus (flatfoot), metatarsus adductus, equinus contracture, and hammertoe deformity frequently coexist with the deformity, which can cause considerable pain and altered joint mechanics.
Why it helps: Supports an association between footwear/biomechanical loading and bunion formation, and identifies overlapping foot conditions (flatfoot, hammertoe) that may be jointly relevant to a foot-disability claim.
Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 2025 · PMID 40332014
Finding: Using statutory health insurance data, the administrative prevalence of hallux valgus was nearly 2% with 83% of affected persons being women; across surgical techniques the AOFAS score improved by an average of 33.8 points (95% CI 30.5-37.0), while the overall surgical complication rate was 18.5%.
Why it helps: Provides population-level prevalence and outcome benchmarks that establish hallux valgus as a common, treatable but complication-prone deformity, useful context for documenting severity and treatment burden in a claim.
- Pes Planus Deformity and Its Association With Hallux Valgus Recurrence Following Scarf OsteotomySecondary
Foot & Ankle International, 2020 · nexus to pes planus (flatfoot) · PMID 32672066
Finding: In 164 feet, hallux valgus recurrence after corrective osteotomy rose with flatfoot severity: recurrence was 1% with normal talus-first metatarsal angle, 29% with moderate pes planus (T1MA -4 to -10 degrees), and 47% with severe pes planus (T1MA < -10 degrees) (P < .001).
Why it helps: Supports a biomechanical association in which pes planus (a frequently service-connected condition) is linked to hallux valgus deformity and its progression/recurrence, relevant to a secondary-nexus argument.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2018 · nexus to gout · PMID 29171878
Finding: In a case-control study, hallux valgus was significantly more frequent in gouty patients than controls (62% vs 37%, P = .0007), and urate tophus size correlated with both intermetatarsal (r = .34, P = .003) and hallux abductus (r = .23, P = .043) angles.
Why it helps: Supports an association between gout (a condition that can itself be service-connected or medication/diet related) and hallux valgus, relevant to a secondary-condition claim involving the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery, 2024 · nexus to rheumatoid arthritis · PMID 38827764
Finding: In 18 patients (24 feet) with rheumatoid forefoot deformity, hallux valgus angle averaged 38.0 degrees preoperatively, reflecting the severe deformities that rheumatoid arthritis commonly produces in the forefoot before joint-preserving correction reduced the angle to 3.5 degrees.
Why it helps: Supports that rheumatoid arthritis frequently causes forefoot deformity including hallux valgus, relevant to a secondary-nexus claim where an inflammatory arthritis is the service-connected primary condition.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Bunions
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Bunions. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Bunions as a Secondary Condition
Bunions is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Bunionsclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Bunions should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
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Health care
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Draft your Bunions personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Bunions VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Bunions evidence, track your claim status, and prepare for your C&P exam. No coaching fees — just tools.
Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Bunions.
Bunions Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.