What rates 0% for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 (DC 5278), a 0% rating for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) requires: Slight — pes cavus without significant functional limitation.

What happens during a C&P exam for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

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Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot)?

Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) (DC 5278) is rated at 50%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278. Bilateral — marked contraction of plantar fascia with dropped forefoot, all toes hammer toes, very painful callosities, marked varus deformity.

Q: What rates 50% for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 (DC 5278), a 50% rating for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) requires: Bilateral — marked contraction of plantar fascia with dropped forefoot, all toes hammer toes, very painful callosities, marked varus deformity.

Q: What rates 30% for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 (DC 5278), a 30% rating for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) requires: Unilateral — same criteria as 50% bilateral (marked contraction, dropped forefoot, hammer toes, callosities, varus deformity). OR — Bilateral — all toes tending to dorsiflexion, limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle to right angle, shortened plantar fascia, marked tenderness under metatarsal heads.

Q: What rates 20% for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 (DC 5278), a 20% rating for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) requires: Unilateral — all toes tending to dorsiflexion, limitation of ankle dorsiflexion to right angle, shortened plantar fascia, marked tenderness under metatarsal heads.

Q: What rates 10% for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 (DC 5278), a 10% rating for Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) requires: Bilateral or Unilateral — great toe dorsiflexed, some limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle, definite tenderness under metatarsal heads.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) claim includes: Service treatment records showing injury or complaints; Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT); Range of motion measurements; Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin; Buddy statements describing limitations. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 527838 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5278

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

0–50%

5 severity tiers

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5278 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5278 across 5 severity tiers (50% / 30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Abnormally high foot arch causing lateral foot instability, metatarsal pain, callus formation, and difficulty finding proper footwear

Rating Criteria

50%

Bilateral — marked contraction of plantar fascia with dropped forefoot, all toes hammer toes, very painful callosities, marked varus deformity.

30%

Unilateral — same criteria as 50% bilateral (marked contraction, dropped forefoot, hammer toes, callosities, varus deformity). OR — Bilateral — all toes tending to dorsiflexion, limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle to right angle, shortened plantar fascia, marked tenderness under metatarsal heads.

20%

Unilateral — all toes tending to dorsiflexion, limitation of ankle dorsiflexion to right angle, shortened plantar fascia, marked tenderness under metatarsal heads.

10%

Bilateral or Unilateral — great toe dorsiflexed, some limitation of dorsiflexion at ankle, definite tenderness under metatarsal heads.

Slight — pes cavus without significant functional limitation.

03Key Evidence

—Service treatment records showing injury or complaints

—Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)

—Range of motion measurements

—Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin

—Buddy statements describing limitations

—Prescription history

—Physical therapy records

—Employment impact documentation

04C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a (Musculoskeletal system). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.

View § 4.71a on eCFR →Cornell Law mirror →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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