What happens during a C&P exam for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc)?

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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Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc)?

Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) (DC 5283) is rated at 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283. DC 5283 NOTE: "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent." (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283 NOTE.) End-stage Lisfranc arthritis with foot non-functional for weight-bearing.

Q: What rates 40% for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 (DC 5283), a 40% rating for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) requires: DC 5283 NOTE: "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent." (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283 NOTE.) End-stage Lisfranc arthritis with foot non-functional for weight-bearing.

Q: What rates 30% for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 (DC 5283), a 30% rating for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) requires: DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Severe" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) Marked midfoot deformity with severe functional impact (e.g., gross collapse of medial longitudinal arch + chronic gait alteration).

Q: What rates 20% for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 (DC 5283), a 20% rating for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) requires: DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Moderately severe" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) Documented midfoot malunion with moderately-severe functional impact (limp, requiring orthotics).

Q: What rates 10% for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 (DC 5283), a 10% rating for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) requires: DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Moderate" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback for symptomatic midfoot arthritis (multiple TMT joints constitute a minor joint group per § 4.45) with painful motion / swelling = 10%.

Q: What rates 0% for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 (DC 5283), a 0% rating for Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) requires: Midfoot arthritis (X-ray-confirmed) without compensable malunion findings AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion findings.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) 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 528338 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5283

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

0–40%

5 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Midfoot Arthritis (Lisfranc) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5283 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5283 across 5 severity tiers (40% / 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

Post-traumatic arthritis in the tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joints of the midfoot causing pain with push-off, standing, and walking

Rating Criteria

40%

DC 5283 NOTE: "With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent." (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283 NOTE.) End-stage Lisfranc arthritis with foot non-functional for weight-bearing.

30%

DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Severe" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) Marked midfoot deformity with severe functional impact (e.g., gross collapse of medial longitudinal arch + chronic gait alteration).

20%

DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Moderately severe" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) Documented midfoot malunion with moderately-severe functional impact (limp, requiring orthotics).

10%

DC 5283 "Tarsal, or metatarsal bones, malunion of, or nonunion of: Moderate" = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5283.) OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback for symptomatic midfoot arthritis (multiple TMT joints constitute a minor joint group per § 4.45) with painful motion / swelling = 10%.

Midfoot arthritis (X-ray-confirmed) without compensable malunion findings AND without objectively-confirmed painful-motion findings.

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 reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.

View 38 C.F.R. Part 4 on eCFR →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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