Plantar Fasciitis, a common inflammatory issue, has a disproportionately high impact on service members. Fortunately, the following blog post is designed to explain the VA rating system for veterans who may have the condition.
Overall, the Plantar Fasciitis VA ratings for 2020 operate on a 0% to 50% scale (including intermittent benefit percentiles at 10%, 20%, and 30%). Depending on several factors that determine the severity of the service member’s Plantar Fasciitis, they could be eligible for up to 50% coverage.
Additionally, there are secondary benefit claims that may be available for back, hip, knee, and joint conditions related to Plantar Fasciitis.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis
As one of the leading causes of foot pain in veterans, Plantar Fasciitis is when the heel bone tissue that connects to your toes becomes inflamed, as demonstrated in the image below.
The condition could be worsened by long distance running, age, poor heel support, obesity, and long periods of standing.
How Do VA Ratings Work For Plantar Fasciitis?
Initially, the service member may experience symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis to include swelling, tenderness, heel pain, and a painful range of motion. Upon diagnosis, the VA operates on the following scale:
- 50% (VA Rating) for Plantar Fasciitis – extreme tenderness or displacement that cannot be resolved by arch support or proper footwear
- 30% (VA Rating) for Plantar Fasciitis – severe deformities and acute pain accompanied by swelling or callosities on the foot
- 20% (VA Rating) for Plantar Fasciitis – severe deformities and moderate pain resulting in swelling or callosities on the foot
- 10% (VA Rating) for Plantar Fasciitis – moderate symptoms that exhibit a downward concave for the tendon Achilles, accompanied by foot pain
- 0% (VA Rating) for Plantar Fasciitis – mild symptoms that are resolved with arch support or more supportive footwear
Secondary conditions resulting from Plantar Fasciitis that could lead to back, hip, knee, or joint pain could also be eligible for benefits, and require “proximately due to/ aggravated by” or “showing of causation” diagnoses by a qualified medical professional.
Closing Remarks
Overall, a C&P examiner will utilize medical records, a physical exam, and X-Rays to determine the severity of your condition. In closing, we would like to thank you for your service, and hope you have gained valuable insight from this post! Thank you for reading.