VA Disability for Flat Feet (Pes Planus)

Flat feet — known medically as pes planus — is one of the most common foot conditions the VA sees, and one of the most commonly misunderstood by veterans filing claims. Many people have flat feet before service, but military service frequently aggravates the condition, and that aggravation can be compensable. Here is how the VA rates flat feet and how to approach a claim, including the all-important question of pre-existing conditions.

How the VA rates flat feet

Flat feet are rated under a specific diagnostic code (5276) on a scale that reflects severity. Ratings generally run from 0% for mild, asymptomatic cases up through 10%, 30%, and as high as 50% for pronounced bilateral cases with marked deformity, pain on manipulation and use, swelling, and characteristic callosities that are not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances. Whether one foot or both are affected matters, with bilateral (both-foot) involvement rated higher. The driving factors are the severity of the deformity, the degree of pain and functional limitation, and whether corrective devices relieve the symptoms. See our overview of how VA disability ratings work for the percentage system in general.

The pre-existing condition question

Flat feet are often noted at entry into service, which leads many veterans to assume they cannot be compensated. That is not correct. Under the legal concept of aggravation, if a pre-existing condition was made permanently worse by your military service beyond its natural progression, the worsening can be service-connected. The key is showing that your feet were worse when you left service than when you entered — entrance and separation exams, service treatment records, and any in-service complaints are crucial evidence. Do not let “noted at entry” stop you from filing.

Proving service connection

For flat feet that began in service, you need the usual trio: a current diagnosis, an in-service onset or event, and a nexus connecting them. For aggravation of pre-existing flat feet, the focus shifts to demonstrating the worsening during service. In either case, a nexus letter from a physician can be valuable, especially one that directly addresses aggravation and explains why the worsening exceeds the condition’s natural course.

Flat feet as a cause of other conditions

Flat feet matter beyond their own rating because they can be the cause of additional service-connected conditions. Fallen arches change the mechanics of how you walk, which can lead to plantar fasciitis, as well as ankle, knee, hip, and back problems over time. If your flat feet are service-connected, those downstream conditions may be claimable as secondary. Our guide to VA secondary conditions explains how a single foundational condition can support multiple secondary claims.

Evidence and the C&P exam

Strong claims include a current diagnosis with imaging or exam findings, entrance and separation exam comparisons, treatment records, and lay statements describing pain and functional limits. At your C&P exam, describe your symptoms on their worst days — pain with standing and walking, swelling, the distances you can manage, and whether shoe inserts actually help. Honesty and specifics matter; review what not to say at a C&P exam before you go.

Tips to strengthen your claim

Pull your entrance and separation physicals and compare them; gather any in-service foot complaints; get a current diagnosis that documents severity; and if your feet were noted at entry, frame the claim around aggravation with evidence of worsening. Consider whether secondary conditions have developed that should be claimed alongside the flat feet. If you are denied or underrated, learn how to increase your rating through the appeal options.

Common mistakes veterans make with flat-feet claims

A few avoidable errors sink otherwise valid flat-feet claims. The biggest is assuming that because flat feet were noted at your entrance physical, you cannot be compensated — when in fact aggravation during service is exactly what the law allows you to claim. A related mistake is failing to pull and compare your entrance and separation exams, which are the single best evidence that your feet worsened in service. Veterans also frequently underdescribe their symptoms, treating chronic foot pain as something to tough out rather than a ratable disability; if you minimize it on paper and at the exam, the rating will reflect that. Another common miss is forgetting to claim the downstream conditions — plantar fasciitis, Achilles problems, and knee, hip, or back issues caused by the altered mechanics of fallen arches — that may be compensable as secondary to service-connected flat feet. Finally, some veterans give up after an initial denial or low rating instead of using the appeal options, even though many flat-feet claims succeed on review once the aggravation evidence and functional impact are properly presented. Avoiding these mistakes — document worsening, describe symptoms fully, claim secondaries, and appeal when warranted — turns a weak claim into a strong one.

Key takeaways

• Flat feet (pes planus) are rated under code 5276, generally from 0% up to 50% for pronounced bilateral cases.
• Pre-existing flat feet can still be compensated if service permanently aggravated them.
• Entrance vs. separation exam comparisons are key evidence for an aggravation claim.
• Service-connected flat feet can support secondary claims for foot, knee, and back conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get VA disability for flat feet noted at entry? Yes — if service permanently worsened them beyond natural progression, the aggravation can be service-connected.

What is the highest rating for flat feet? Up to 50% for pronounced bilateral pes planus with marked symptoms not relieved by orthopedic devices — verify current criteria.

Can flat feet cause other ratable conditions? Yes — altered gait can lead to plantar fasciitis and knee, hip, or back problems claimable as secondary.

Is bilateral flat feet rated higher than one foot? Yes — bilateral (both-foot) pes planus is rated higher than unilateral at each severity level, so it is important the claim and exam capture both feet if both are affected.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria can change; verify current rules at VA.gov or with an accredited representative.