Reference: 38 CFR 4.71a

Sources & Related Guides

What is the VA rating for Ankle?

Understand ankle guidance around ankle ankylosis positions, limited plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis, os calcis or astragalus malunion, astragalectomy, ankle replacement residuals, painful motion, and functional loss.

Condition Overview & Clinical Scope

The published ankle schedule uses several separate pathways. Some focus on ankle ankylosis, a fixed joint position described by the degree of plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Others focus on limited ankle motion, subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis, malunion of the os calcis or astragalus, astragalectomy, or residuals after ankle replacement. Unlike several upper-extremity guides, the ankle schedule does not distinguish a dominant or nondominant side.

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Start AssessmentAnswer condition-scoped questions using documented findings from your records or exam notes.ContinuePercentage GuideSee the published percentage tiers and what changes between them.ContinueSecondary ConditionsSee conditions commonly connected to this one in VA claims.Continue

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Common Questions & FAQs

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Overview

About this condition

The published ankle schedule uses several separate pathways. Some focus on ankle ankylosis, a fixed joint position described by the degree of plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Others focus on limited ankle motion, subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis, malunion of the os calcis or astragalus, astragalectomy, or residuals after ankle replacement. Unlike several upper-extremity guides, the ankle schedule does not distinguish a dominant or nondominant side.

Regulatory authority: 38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5056 and DC 5270-5274

This guide is educational only. RatingScope does not diagnose an ankle condition, does not infer missing measurements, does not determine service connection, and does not predict a VA decision. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: 38 CFR 4.71a's Prosthetic Implants and Resurfacing heading states that when an evaluation is assigned for joint resurfacing or the prosthetic replacement of a joint under diagnostic codes 5051-5056 (DC 5056 for the ankle), an additional rating under 4.71a may not also be assigned for that same joint, unless otherwise directed -- disclosed here, not silently applied or combined with a DC 5270-5274 finding. One ankle replacement residual route requiring review by analogy to the ankylosis or limitation-of-motion pathways is not yet enumerated in this hub as its own percentage and is flagged below rather than estimated.

Percentage Guides

Understanding Your Percentage

Select a pathway to see what the published criteria ask about, what records may clarify it, and what should not be assumed.

10%

Next: 20%

The 10% level can describe moderate limited ankle motion, subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis in a good weight-bearing position, or moderate malunion of the os calcis or astragalus.

What separates the next level: Higher levels move into marked limited motion, poor weight-bearing subastragalar or tarsal ankylosis, marked malunion, astragalectomy, or ankle ankylosis under DC 5270, rather than a further degree of this moderate finding.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
DC 5271 lists moderate (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion) limitation of ankle motion at 10 percent. DC 5272 lists subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis in a good weight-bearing position at 10 percent. DC 5273 lists moderate malunion of the os calcis or astragalus at 10 percent.
Qualification explanation
These are three separate routes under different diagnostic codes. RatingScope should not blend a limited-motion finding with a subastragalar or tarsal ankylosis finding, or a malunion finding, unless the record documents that specific route.
Examples
The ankle has moderate limitation of motion documented on examination.; Subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis is documented in a good weight-bearing position.; Moderate malunion of the os calcis or astragalus is documented on imaging.
Medical evidence
Ankle DBQ range-of-motion section; Goniometer measurements for plantar flexion and dorsiflexion; Imaging confirming subastragalar or tarsal joint position; Imaging or operative records confirming os calcis or astragalus alignment
Functional impact examples
Difficulty walking on uneven ground or standing for extended periods.; Pain or activity limits may still be real even when the record only supports a 10% pathway.; Weight-bearing tasks may be affected even at a moderate or good-position finding.
Common misconceptions
A painful ankle does not by itself identify which 10% route applies.; Subastragalar/tarsal ankylosis, limited motion, and os calcis/astragalus malunion are different findings and are not interchangeable.; A missing measurement is not the same as a noncompensable measurement.
Related topics
moderate limited motion; subastragalar ankylosis; tarsal ankylosis; os calcis malunion; astragalus malunion
Source context
38 CFR 4.71a; 5271, 5272, 5273; Current educational Ankle guide; deterministic assessment support is not active.

20%

Next: 30%

The 20% level can describe the minimum evaluation for ankle replacement, ankle ankylosis in plantar flexion less than 30 degrees, marked limited ankle motion, subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis in a poor weight-bearing position, marked malunion of the os calcis or astragalus, or astragalectomy.

What separates the next level: Higher levels require mid-range or severe ankle ankylosis under DC 5270, or chronic severe replacement residuals under DC 5056, rather than this level's findings.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
DC 5056 lists a minimum 20 percent evaluation for ankle replacement when higher residual criteria are not documented. DC 5270 lists ankle ankylosis in plantar flexion less than 30 degrees at 20 percent. DC 5271 lists marked (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion) limitation of ankle motion at 20 percent. DC 5272 lists subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis in a poor weight-bearing position at 20 percent. DC 5273 lists marked malunion of the os calcis or astragalus at 20 percent. DC 5274 lists astragalectomy at 20 percent.
Qualification explanation
These are six separate routes across different diagnostic codes that share the same percentage. The record needs to identify the specific route rather than assuming any one finding from a general ankle diagnosis.
Examples
An ankle prosthesis was implanted and no higher residual criteria are documented.; Ankle ankylosis is documented in plantar flexion less than 30 degrees.; The ankle has marked limitation of motion.; Subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis is documented in a poor weight-bearing position.; Marked malunion of the os calcis or astragalus is documented.; Astragalectomy, surgical removal of the astragalus, is documented in the operative record.
Medical evidence
Ankle DBQ ankylosis, limited-motion, and replacement sections; Operative report for ankle replacement or astragalectomy; Imaging confirming ankylosis position or weight-bearing alignment; Imaging or operative records confirming os calcis or astragalus alignment
Functional impact examples
Substantial difficulty walking, standing, or bearing weight when several of these routes are documented.; Marked instability or difficulty on uneven terrain when subastragalar or tarsal joint findings are documented.; Occupational tasks requiring standing or walking may be affected.
Common misconceptions
A general ankle surgery is not automatically a qualifying prosthetic replacement or astragalectomy.; Ankylosis means a fixed joint, not just pain or stiffness, and the specific position or joint distinguishes these routes.; This level does not require every finding to be documented at once; a single qualifying route is sufficient.
Related topics
ankle replacement minimum evaluation; ankylosis under 30 degrees; marked limited motion; poor weight-bearing ankylosis; astragalectomy
Source context
38 CFR 4.71a; 5056, 5270, 5271, 5272, 5273, 5274; Current educational Ankle guide; deterministic assessment support is not active.

30%

Next: 40%

This level describes ankle ankylosis in plantar flexion between 30 and 40 degrees, or in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees.

What separates the next level: Positions with plantar flexion more than 40 degrees, dorsiflexion more than 10 degrees, or with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity move into the severe ankylosis level instead. Positions with plantar flexion less than 30 degrees move into the lower ankylosis level.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
DC 5270 lists ankle ankylosis in plantar flexion between 30 and 40 degrees, or in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees, at 30 percent.
Qualification explanation
Ankylosis means the ankle is fixed in a position, not just painful or limited in motion. The record needs to document the fixed angle within this range.
Examples
The ankle is fixed at 35 degrees of plantar flexion.; The ankle is fixed at 5 degrees of dorsiflexion.; Imaging or examination confirms a fixed joint rather than ordinary limited motion.
Medical evidence
Ankle DBQ ankylosis section; Imaging confirming the fixed joint angle; Orthopedic specialist notes
Functional impact examples
A fixed ankle in this range can still substantially limit walking, standing, and balance.; Uneven terrain and stairs may be especially difficult when the ankle cannot move through this range.; Assistive devices such as a brace or cane may be documented at this level.
Common misconceptions
Stiffness is not automatically ankylosis.; A painful but mobile ankle does not qualify for an ankylosis pathway.; The specific fixed-angle range distinguishes this level from the lower and severe ankylosis levels.
Related topics
ankylosis; plantar flexion; dorsiflexion; fixed position
Source context
38 CFR 4.71a; 5270; Current educational Ankle guide; deterministic assessment support is not active.

40%

Next: 100%

This level can describe severe ankle ankylosis, or chronic severe residuals of painful motion or weakness following ankle replacement.

What separates the next level: This is the highest documented level in this hub. A temporary 100% level may apply after qualifying ankle replacement implantation under DC 5056, but that is based on procedure timing rather than a further step of permanent severity.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
DC 5270 lists ankle ankylosis in plantar flexion more than 40 degrees, dorsiflexion more than 10 degrees, or with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity, at 40 percent. DC 5056 lists chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness following ankle replacement at 40 percent.
Qualification explanation
These are two separate routes with different underlying findings. An ankylosis position finding should not be blended with an ankle replacement residual finding, and the record needs to identify which route actually applies.
Examples
The ankle is ankylosed in plantar flexion greater than 40 degrees.; The ankle is ankylosed with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity.; Chronic severe painful motion or weakness is documented after ankle replacement, outside the temporary post-procedure period.
Medical evidence
Ankle DBQ ankylosis section; Operative report and follow-up records for ankle replacement; Imaging confirming the fixed joint position or deformity; Orthopedic specialist notes describing severity
Functional impact examples
Severe difficulty walking, standing, or bearing weight when the ankle is fixed outside the mid-range position.; Marked difficulty on uneven terrain, stairs, or inclines when severe post-replacement residuals are documented.; Assistive devices or significant gait changes may be documented at this level.
Common misconceptions
Severe pain alone is not automatically ankylosis or a qualifying replacement residual.; A general ankle surgery is not the same as a prosthetic ankle replacement.; The mid-range ankylosis position and this severe range are not interchangeable.
Related topics
severe ankylosis; deformity; ankle replacement; severe residuals; chronic pain
Source context
38 CFR 4.71a; 5056 and 5270; Current educational Ankle guide; deterministic assessment support is not active.

100%

Highest listed pathway

DC 5056 provides a temporary 100% level for one year following implantation of an ankle prosthesis.

What separates the next level: After the one-year period, chronic severe painful motion or weakness is listed at 40%, a minimum evaluation of 20% applies when higher residual criteria are not documented, and intermediate residuals are evaluated by analogy to DC 5270 or DC 5271.

Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
Official CFR language
DC 5056 lists prosthetic replacement of the ankle joint at 100 percent for one year following implantation of the prosthesis.
Qualification explanation
The procedure type and timing must be explicit. After the temporary period, ankle replacement residuals are evaluated using the chronic-residual, minimum-evaluation, or analogy instructions in the schedule.
Examples
An ankle prosthesis was implanted within the one-year period.; The operative report identifies prosthetic replacement of the ankle joint.; Follow-up records document the procedure date and recovery period.
Medical evidence
Operative report; Procedure date; Postoperative follow-up records; Ankle replacement residual findings
Functional impact examples
Postoperative recovery occurs during the schedule-defined temporary period.; Later residual function is evaluated after the temporary period.; Painful motion and weakness matter after the post-procedure period when documented.
Common misconceptions
The temporary 100% route is not permanent by default.; A general ankle surgery is not automatically prosthetic replacement.; Procedure timing should not be guessed.
Related topics
DC 5056; ankle prosthesis; temporary post-procedure period; replacement residuals
Source context
38 CFR 4.71a; 5056; Current educational Ankle guide; deterministic assessment support is not active.

Learn

Understand the details behind the criteria

Use these short guides to connect published terms with the records and observations that may clarify them.

Severe, mid-range, and low ankle ankylosis

DC 5270 separates ankle ankylosis into three fixed-position levels rather than a single ankylosis finding.

  • The lowest ankylosis level is fixed in plantar flexion less than 30 degrees.
  • The mid-range level is fixed in plantar flexion between 30 and 40 degrees, or in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees.
  • The severe level is fixed in plantar flexion more than 40 degrees, dorsiflexion more than 10 degrees, or with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity.
  • Ankylosis describes a fixed joint position and is distinct from ordinary limited motion, which still moves but not through the full range.

Records to review: Ankle DBQ ankylosis section; imaging confirming fixed position; orthopedic specialist notes.

Moderate and marked limited ankle motion

DC 5271 evaluates limitation of ankle motion using moderate and marked severity levels rather than a fixed joint position.

  • Limited motion means the ankle still moves but not through the full plantar flexion or dorsiflexion range.
  • Moderate limited motion (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion) is rated at 10 percent.
  • Marked limited motion (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion) is rated at 20 percent.
  • Limited motion under DC 5271 is distinct from the fixed-position ankylosis findings evaluated under DC 5270.

Records to review: Ankle DBQ range-of-motion section; goniometer measurements; physical therapy range-of-motion notes.

Subastragalar and tarsal joint ankylosis

DC 5272 evaluates ankylosis of the subastragalar or tarsal joint by weight-bearing position rather than by the ankle-joint plantar flexion or dorsiflexion angle used in DC 5270.

  • The subastragalar and tarsal joints are separate from the main ankle joint evaluated under DC 5270 and DC 5271.
  • A good weight-bearing position is rated at 10 percent.
  • A poor weight-bearing position is rated at 20 percent.
  • This route should not be confused with ankle-joint ankylosis or with os calcis or astragalus malunion, which use different diagnostic codes.

Records to review: Ankle DBQ ankylosis section; imaging confirming subastragalar or tarsal joint position; orthopedic specialist notes.

Malunion of the os calcis or astragalus

DC 5273 evaluates malunion of the os calcis (heel bone) or astragalus (ankle bone) by severity rather than by joint position.

  • Malunion means a bone healed in a misaligned position after fracture, distinct from ankylosis or limited motion of a joint.
  • Moderate malunion is rated at 10 percent.
  • Marked malunion is rated at 20 percent.
  • Imaging and orthopedic records, rather than symptom descriptions, typically document malunion severity.

Records to review: Imaging confirming os calcis or astragalus alignment; orthopedic specialist notes; operative reports where applicable.

Ankle replacement (prosthesis) residuals

DC 5056 addresses the temporary period after ankle replacement and the residual findings evaluated afterward.

  • A temporary 100% level applies for one year following implantation of an ankle prosthesis.
  • After that period, chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness are evaluated at 40 percent.
  • A minimum 20 percent evaluation applies to ankle replacement when higher residual criteria are not documented.
  • Intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion are evaluated by analogy to DC 5270 or DC 5271 rather than by a stand-alone percentage documented in this hub.
  • A general ankle surgery history is not the same as a documented prosthetic replacement procedure.
  • The Prosthetic Implants and Resurfacing heading's own introductory Note is the textual basis for this analogy-only, no-stacking approach: when an evaluation is assigned under DC 5051-5056 for joint resurfacing or prosthetic replacement, an additional rating under 38 CFR 4.71a may not also be assigned for that same joint, unless otherwise directed.
  • The 'unless otherwise directed' clause is confirmed, via fresh verbatim fetch, to have no elaboration anywhere in 38 CFR 4.71a -- the word 'directed' appears nowhere else in the section. Who may direct an exception, or where such a direction would appear, is not stated. RatingScope discloses that this escape clause exists rather than guessing at what would satisfy it.

Records to review: operative report; procedure date; postoperative follow-up records.

Flare-ups, repeated use, and functional loss

Ankle function can change with repeated use, flare-ups, pain, weakness, fatigability, incoordination, or lack of endurance.

  • The DBQ may ask how flare-ups affect movement and ordinary tasks.
  • Repeated-use findings may identify whether motion changes after repetitive testing or over time.
  • Functional impact can include walking, standing, balance, uneven terrain, stairs, and prolonged weight-bearing tasks.
  • RatingScope uses functional-loss language as educational context and does not infer absent medical findings.

Records to review: DBQ flare-up section; repeated-use testing; treatment notes; lay descriptions of functional impact.

Measurement Guide

How ankle movement is measured

Measurements should come from medical records, examinations, DBQs, or other documented clinical findings. RatingScope does not estimate motion from symptoms.

Ankle plantar flexion

Plantar flexion points the foot downward, away from the body, such as pressing a gas pedal.

Normal reference: The DBQ commonly references ankle plantar flexion to 45 degrees.

Why it matters: DC 5270 uses plantar flexion angle to identify the ankylosis position level, and DC 5271 uses limited plantar flexion to help identify the limitation-of-motion severity.

Ankle dorsiflexion

Dorsiflexion pulls the foot upward, toward the shin.

Normal reference: The DBQ commonly references ankle dorsiflexion to 20 degrees.

Why it matters: DC 5270 uses dorsiflexion angle to identify the ankylosis position level, and DC 5271 uses limited dorsiflexion to help identify the limitation-of-motion severity.

Subastragalar or tarsal joint position

Whether the subastragalar or tarsal joint is fixed in a good or poor weight-bearing position rather than moving through a range.

Normal reference: The DBQ records subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis and weight-bearing position separately from the ankle joint.

Why it matters: DC 5272 uses this weight-bearing position finding to identify its own ankylosis pathway, separate from ankle-joint ankylosis under DC 5270.

How an examination adds context

Active and passive motion
Records may distinguish motion the veteran performs from motion the examiner moves through passively.
Repeated-use testing
The DBQ may ask whether repeated use causes additional loss of function or range of motion.
Flare-ups
Flare-up descriptions help explain whether function changes during worse episodes, but they should not be converted into measurements unless documented.
Painful motion
Pain can matter when it affects documented function or motion. RatingScope does not treat pain as a stand-alone rating calculation.
Weight-bearing position
For subastragalar or tarsal joint findings, the examiner may record whether a fixed position is a good or poor weight-bearing position.

Evidence

Evidence that may clarify the published criteria

Ankle DBQ

The DBQ organizes diagnosis, plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, ankylosis, subastragalar or tarsal joint findings, os calcis or astragalus findings, replacement history, pain, and functional impact.

A DBQ is useful context, but RatingScope does not require uploads and this hub does not accept records.

Diagnosis and treatment records

Treatment notes can show the current condition, course over time, therapy, medication, brace use, surgery, and clinician observations.

A diagnosis alone does not identify which percentage pathway applies.

X-rays, MRI, CT, or operative imaging

Imaging may help document a fixed ankylosis position, subastragalar or tarsal joint alignment, os calcis or astragalus malunion, replacement hardware, or other structural findings.

Imaging severity should not be substituted for a route-specific CFR finding.

Range-of-motion measurements

Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion measurements help clarify which limitation-of-motion or ankylosis pathway is being discussed.

RatingScope does not estimate degrees from words such as stiff, sore, or limited.

Surgery or replacement records

Operative and orthopedic records can clarify ankle replacement procedure timing, astragalectomy, and residual findings afterward.

A general surgery history is not the same as a qualifying prosthetic replacement or astragalectomy.

Personal and firsthand lay evidence

Plain descriptions can explain walking, standing, balance, uneven terrain, stairs, and flare-up impact.

Lay evidence can describe observed impact, but it should not invent medical measurements or diagnoses.

Functional-loss descriptions

Records describing pain, weakness, fatigability, incoordination, lack of endurance, flare-ups, or repeated-use limits help connect symptoms to function.

Functional loss is context; it does not let RatingScope infer absent CFR findings.

Official VA Forms & DBQs

Downloadable DBQs & Supporting Claim Forms

Take the public DBQ to your private physician or review it prior to your C&P examination.

Terminology

Plain-English terms

Ankle plantar flexion

How far the foot points down at the ankle.

DC 5270 and DC 5271 use plantar flexion angle or limitation to identify ankylosis and limitation-of-motion pathways.

DBQ range-of-motion section

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Ankle dorsiflexion

How far the foot pulls up toward the shin at the ankle.

DC 5270 and DC 5271 use dorsiflexion angle or limitation to identify ankylosis and limitation-of-motion pathways.

DBQ range-of-motion section

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Ankylosis

The ankle is fixed in a position, not just painful or stiff.

DC 5270 uses low, mid-range, and severe ankle ankylosis levels based on the fixed plantar flexion or dorsiflexion angle, or the presence of deformity.

DBQ ankylosis section

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Subastragalar and tarsal joints

Joints just below and near the ankle joint itself.

DC 5272 rates ankylosis of these joints by weight-bearing position, separate from ankle-joint ankylosis under DC 5270.

DBQ ankylosis section; imaging confirming joint position

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Os calcis and astragalus

Two bones near the ankle that can heal in a misaligned position after fracture.

DC 5273 rates malunion of these bones by moderate or marked severity, separate from joint ankylosis or limitation of motion.

imaging confirming alignment; orthopedic specialist notes

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Ankle replacement

Surgery that replaces the ankle joint with a prosthesis.

DC 5056 provides a temporary 100% level after implantation, a minimum 20 percent evaluation, a 40 percent chronic severe residual level, and an intermediate review-by-analogy route.

operative report; postoperative follow-up records

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TDIU

Even if the schedular rating for Ankle does not reach 100 percent, TDIU may still provide a pathway to compensation at the 100 percent rate, based on unemployability from this and/or other service-connected disabilities combined.

A lower schedular percentage does not by itself foreclose TDIU eligibility -- this hub computes only the schedular percentage for this specific condition and does not determine TDIU eligibility.

Employment history; vocational impact documentation; occupational impairment

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Common Questions

Questions veterans commonly ask

Why does ankle ankylosis have three different levels?

DC 5270 separates ankle ankylosis by the fixed position: less than 30 degrees of plantar flexion, 30 to 40 degrees of plantar flexion or 0 to 10 degrees of dorsiflexion, or more than 40 degrees of plantar flexion, more than 10 degrees of dorsiflexion, or with deformity. These are different fixed positions, not interchangeable descriptions of the same finding.

What is the difference between ankle ankylosis and limited ankle motion?

Ankylosis under DC 5270 means the ankle is fixed in a position. Limited motion under DC 5271 means the ankle still moves but not through the full range, described as moderate or marked.

What is the difference between ankle-joint ankylosis and subastragalar or tarsal joint ankylosis?

DC 5270 rates ankylosis of the ankle joint itself, measured by plantar flexion or dorsiflexion angle. DC 5272 separately rates ankylosis of the subastragalar or tarsal joints, nearby joints rated by weight-bearing position instead.

Does pain automatically increase an ankle percentage?

Pain matters when it affects documented motion or function, but pain by itself does not identify a route. The record still needs the specific finding the schedule asks about.

What happens after ankle replacement surgery?

DC 5056 provides a temporary 100% level for one year following implantation. Afterward, a minimum 20 percent evaluation applies when higher residual criteria are not documented, chronic severe residuals are evaluated at 40 percent, and intermediate residuals are reviewed by analogy to the ankylosis or limitation-of-motion pathways rather than a stand-alone percentage.

Can I receive a separate ankylosis or limited-motion rating in addition to an ankle replacement rating for the same ankle?

No. 38 CFR 4.71a's Prosthetic Implants and Resurfacing heading states that when an evaluation is assigned under DC 5051-5056 for joint resurfacing or prosthetic replacement, an additional rating under 4.71a may not also be assigned for that same joint, unless otherwise directed. This is why DC 5056 itself directs intermediate residuals to be rated by analogy to DC 5270 or DC 5271 rather than adding a second, separate rating for the same ankle.

What is astragalectomy and how is it rated?

Astragalectomy is surgical removal of the astragalus, the ankle bone. DC 5274 rates this at 20 percent.

Does dominant or nondominant side matter for ankle conditions?

No. Unlike several upper-extremity guides, the ankle schedule does not use different percentages for a dominant versus nondominant side.

Can both ankles be evaluated separately?

Both sides may have separate documented findings, but left and right measurements should not be blended. Overlapping same-joint manifestations still have to respect VA rules against pyramiding.

Is this an active RatingScope assessment?

No. This Ankle hub is educational only. Do not enter ankle findings into another condition's assessment.

If my schedular rating for Ankle is below 100%, can I still be compensated at the 100% rate?

Possibly, through TDIU (Total Disability rating based on Individual Unemployability, 38 CFR 4.16) -- a separate pathway to 100 percent compensation based on unemployability, from this and/or other service-connected disabilities combined, independent of whether the schedular rating itself reaches 100 percent. This hub computes only the schedular percentage and does not determine TDIU eligibility.

What separates the 10% rating from adjacent levels?

Higher levels move into marked limited motion, poor weight-bearing subastragalar or tarsal ankylosis, marked malunion, astragalectomy, or ankle ankylosis under DC 5270, rather than a further degree of this moderate finding.

What separates the 20% rating from adjacent levels?

Higher levels require mid-range or severe ankle ankylosis under DC 5270, or chronic severe replacement residuals under DC 5056, rather than this level's findings.

What separates the 30% rating from adjacent levels?

Positions with plantar flexion more than 40 degrees, dorsiflexion more than 10 degrees, or with abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity move into the severe ankylosis level instead. Positions with plantar flexion less than 30 degrees move into the lower ankylosis level.

What separates the 40% rating from adjacent levels?

This is the highest documented level in this hub. A temporary 100% level may apply after qualifying ankle replacement implantation under DC 5056, but that is based on procedure timing rather than a further step of permanent severity.

What separates the 100% rating from adjacent levels?

After the one-year period, chronic severe painful motion or weakness is listed at 40%, a minimum evaluation of 20% applies when higher residual criteria are not documented, and intermediate residuals are evaluated by analogy to DC 5270 or DC 5271.

Related Conditions

Continue learning through connected topics

Knee / Lower Leg

Knee and lower-leg findings are nearby but use separate criteria from ankle ankylosis and motion pathways.

Radiculopathy

Radiating pain, numbness, weakness, or reflex changes may require nerve-route context instead of ankle-joint criteria.

Claims Process

Claims Process explains C&P exams, evidence categories, decision letters, and claim-stage context.

Combined Ratings

If more than one condition is involved, combined-rating math is educational context and does not simply add percentages.

Ready when you are

Compare documented ankle findings

Use diagnosis, ankylosis position, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion measurements, and replacement or astragalectomy history already documented in your records. Do not upload records or enter Social Security numbers, claim numbers, full dates of birth, or other sensitive identifiers. RatingScope does not infer missing medical findings or predict a VA decision.

Informational guidance only. RatingScope does not predict, decide, or guarantee VA outcomes.

Compare my Ankle records

Learn More

Continue Understanding

External source/reference

38 CFR 4.71a - The Ankle

Official regulation source for DC 5056 and DC 5270-5274. Use the official source for current rule text.

Open 38 CFR 4.71a - The Ankle

External source/reference

VA Ankle Conditions DBQ

Public VA DBQ showing the kinds of ankle findings that may be documented.

Open VA Ankle Conditions DBQ

RatingScope resource

Claims Process - C&P exams

Educational context for what a C&P exam is and how exam evidence is organized.

Open Claims Process - C&P exams

RatingScope resource

Claims Process - Evidence Center

Educational context for evidence categories such as DBQs, treatment records, imaging, and lay statements.

Open Claims Process - Evidence Center

RatingScope resource

Knee / Lower Leg guide

Nearby lower-extremity guidance that remains separate from ankle criteria.

Open Knee / Lower Leg guide

Secondary conditions

Conditions commonly connected to Ankle

No commonly documented secondary connections are tracked for Ankle yet.

Educational Guides & Evidence Resources

In-depth analysis of DBQ forms, medical evidence thresholds, and rating schedules for Ankle.

How VA Rates Ankle Pain: DC 5270-5274 Motion and Instability Criteria

Learn how the VA evaluates ankle pain, limited motion, and joint instability under 38 CFR 4.71a using Diagnostic Codes 5270 through 5274.

Foot and Ankle C&P Exam Guide: DBQs, Range of Motion, and Functional Loss

Prepare for your VA foot and ankle C&P exam with this complete guide to Foot and Ankle DBQs, goniometer range of motion, and functional loss standards.

How VA Rates Plantar Fasciitis: DC 5269 Treatment and Surgery Criteria

Understand how the VA evaluates plantar fasciitis under 38 CFR 4.71a (DC 5269) based on conservative care, surgical treatment, and bilateral symptoms.

How VA Rates Flatfoot (Pes Planus): DC 5276 Severity and Arch Support Criteria

Learn how the VA evaluates flatfoot (pes planus) under 38 CFR 4.71a (DC 5276) across mild, moderate, severe, and pronounced deformity tiers.

What Is Functional Loss in VA Disability Claims? 38 CFR 4.40 and 4.45

Understand how the VA evaluates functional loss under 38 CFR 4.40 and 4.45 based on weakness, fatigue, flare-ups, and incoordination.

Keep going

Related Tools

Compare a percentage level and combined-rating math, or review evidence context.

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VA Math & Combined Ratings

Understand the whole-person method, final rounding, and bilateral limits, then calculate how percentages combine.

Open VA Math guide

Evidence Center

Understand common evidence categories and what they can clarify without treating them as a checklist.

Open Evidence Center