Plantar Fasciitis — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
Start a claim for Plantar Fasciitis— free & guided
Step-by-step builder: add this and any related conditions, see the research, and get a package ready for a free VSO. No account needed to start.
The DBQ for Plantar Fasciitis
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.
What the examiner measures
- Whether the condition is unilateral or bilateral (DC 5269)
- Pain on manipulation and use of the plantar fascia / heel
- Whether symptoms are relieved by non-surgical treatment (orthotics/arch supports) — "not relieved" drives higher ratings
- Whether symptoms are relieved by surgery, or not relieved by any treatment (30% level)
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Plantar Fasciitis — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Plantar Fasciitis, 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 Plantar Fasciitis
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5269 (plantar fasciitis, added effective Feb 7, 2021). Rated on treatment response, not limitation of motion.. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Plantar fasciitis, unilateral or bilateral, not meeting the higher criteria.
No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, unilateral; or recommended for surgery but not a surgical candidate, unilateral.
No relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment, bilateral; or recommended for surgery but not a surgical candidate, bilateral.
With actual loss of use of the foot.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Plantar Fasciitis 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 Plantar Fasciitis 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.
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American Volume), 2009 · PMID 19952249
Finding: Using the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database, the overall incidence of plantar fasciitis among US service members was 10.5 per 1,000 person-years. Compared with Air Force personnel, those serving in the Army (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.85, 95% CI 1.82-1.87) and Marines (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.25-1.30) had significantly higher rates, and age 40+ carried an IRR of 3.42 versus the 20-24 age group.
Why it helps: Supports an association between active-duty military service (especially Army and Marine Corps duty) and plantar fasciitis, documenting a high baseline incidence in the population most exposed to load-bearing duties and standard-issue footwear.
BMJ Military Health, 2026 · PMID 39904534
Finding: In a retrospective cohort of US service members (2006-2015), plantar fasciopathy occurred at an overall incidence of 12.85 per 1,000 person-years, affecting 176,601 members. Most enlisted occupational specialties had significantly elevated risk relative to infantry, and Army service, female sex, age over 30, and junior enlisted rank were identified as associated risk factors.
Why it helps: Supports an association between military service and plantar fasciopathy across occupational specialties, reinforcing that the condition is common and service-related in the active-duty population.
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013 · PMID 26535232
Finding: In the Millennium Cohort Study of 80,106 active-duty personnel followed over 1 year, 1,228 cases of plantar fasciitis were identified, and recent deployment was associated with increased risk (adjusted OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04-1.56). Overweight or obese individuals were also more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.
Why it helps: Supports an association between service-related exposures such as recent deployment and the development of plantar fasciitis, helping connect operational military duty to onset of the condition.
Sports Health, 2021 · PMID 33530860
Finding: This systematic review and meta-analysis (16 studies) found that increased ankle plantarflexion range of motion (weighted mean difference 7.04 degrees, 95% CI 5.88-8.19), higher body mass index (MD 2.13 kg/m2, 95% CI 1.40-2.86), and higher body mass (MD 4.52 kg) were risk factors for plantar fasciitis in physically active people, attributing the effect to load on the force-absorbing plantar structures.
Why it helps: Supports an association between the repetitive load and weight-bearing demands placed on active individuals and plantar fasciitis, consistent with the physical loading inherent to military duty.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford), 2015 · PMID 25694489
Finding: This systematic review of four studies found low-quality evidence of an association between plantar fasciitis and occupational weight-bearing tasks such as prolonged walking or standing on hard surfaces, alongside associations with sex, obesity, foot biomechanics, and job tenure.
Why it helps: Supports an association between prolonged weight bearing and standing on hard surfaces and plantar fasciitis, relevant to the load-bearing and prolonged standing common in military occupational duties (the authors note the evidence base is still limited).
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2016 · PMID 26644427
Finding: Across 51 studies, higher BMI (>27) was the only significant pooled clinical association with plantar fasciopathy (OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.93-5.62), strongest in non-athletes; imaging consistently showed a thicker, hypoechogenic plantar fascia, while mechanical measures of foot and ankle function were not well supported.
Why it helps: Supports an association between increased load on the plantar fascia (via higher body mass) and plantar fasciopathy; the authors caution that purely mechanical foot/ankle measures showed weaker evidence.
Foot & Ankle International, 2014 · nexus to flat feet (pes planus) / altered foot function (overpronation) · PMID 25037712
Finding: In a community cohort of 1,466 adults, an overpronated (low-arch) foot was associated with hallux valgus (adjusted OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.13-1.65) and overlapping toes, especially in obese participants, and altered foot function (pronation/supination) was linked to several musculoskeletal foot disorders including plantar fasciitis.
Why it helps: Supports an association between altered foot function/arch posture (such as flat feet and overpronation) and downstream foot disorders, lending some plausibility to a secondary nexus from flat feet or altered gait to plantar fasciitis (evidence is mixed).
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2006 · nexus to altered gait / foot biomechanics (reduced ankle dorsiflexion) · PMID 16584917
Finding: This systematic review of 16 studies found body mass index in non-athletes and presence of a calcaneal spur were associated with chronic plantar heel pain, with some evidence for decreased ankle dorsiflexion, decreased first metatarsophalangeal joint extension, and prolonged standing; evidence for static foot posture and dynamic foot motion was inconclusive.
Why it helps: Supports a partial association between altered foot/ankle biomechanics (such as reduced dorsiflexion and joint mobility that affect gait) and chronic plantar heel pain, while noting that the evidence for static foot posture was inconclusive.
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 Plantar Fasciitis
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Plantar Fasciitis. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Knee Pain
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Lower Back Pain
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Hip Pain
Nexus strength: moderate· Commonly granted
Flat Feet
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Achilles Tendonitis
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Ankle Conditions
Nexus strength: moderate· Commonly granted
Share this rating breakdown
A free, source-cited infographic of how the VA rates Plantar Fasciitis. Save it and post it, or send it to someone who needs it. No fee, no catch.
Square format, ready for an Instagram or Facebook post.
Open / save the image →Sharing the page link also shows a wide preview card automatically.
Related Guides
Plantar Fasciitis as a Secondary Condition
Plantar Fasciitis is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Plantar Fasciitisclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Plantar Fasciitis should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
Estimate your combined rating →
The VA doesn't add ratings — they use a specific formula. See your combined rating in 30 seconds.
Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
State property tax exemptions for SC vets vary 10x. Some states fully exempt 100%-rated vets, others give nothing.
Home buying
VA home loan + funding fee waiver →
ANY service-connected rating waives the funding fee. On a $400K loan that's ~$8,600 saved.
Draft your Plantar Fasciitis 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 Plantar Fasciitis VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Plantar Fasciitis 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 Plantar Fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
More free tools
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.