Pain in the foot is never pleasant. If you’re experiencing chronic foot pain, you may have plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately, this condition is typical in people who have worked most of their lives on their feet, including those in military service.
If you are a veteran experiencing plantar fasciitis, you may qualify for VA disability. A plantar fasciitis VA rating is what’s used to determine your compensation and will depend on a few factors. Let’s talk about plantar fasciitis and what you’ll need to file for disability.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
It’s important to understand what plantar fasciitis is before we go any further. Plantar fasciitis is a very common cause of heel pain in the foot. Plantar fasciitis is what happens when the tissue in your foot becomes inflamed.
The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that runs through the sole of the foot. It attaches to your heel bone and the base of the toes. This tissue plays a crucial part in the mechanics of walking.
What are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?
The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is foot pain around the heel bone. Those who have it will notice a stabbing pain that happens when you first step on the ground in the morning. Typically, the foot pain subsides, but it can return throughout the day if you’re standing for a long period of time. Other plantar fasciitis symptoms include:
- Heel pain
- Foot pain
- Arch pain
- Heel swelling
- Tight Achilles tendon
- Stiffness
Plantar fasciitis can also come back if you’ve been sitting for a long time and then stand up. Pain will either radiate through the bottom of the foot or in the heel bone. If you exercise and have plantar fasciitis, you may feel good during the exercise, but without physical therapy, your pain will only worsen. While physical therapy is a great option, surgical treatment may be needed.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Several things can cause plantar fasciitis. Essentially, anything that can irritate the plantar fascia may cause it, such as:
- Working a job where you’re on your feet all day
- Exercising on a hard surface
- Wearing unsupportive footwear
- Walking around barefoot
- Working on hard and flat surfaces
Any job where you’re required to be on your feet all day may cause inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament. If you’re a veteran, you are particularly at risk due to being on your feet. Certain health conditions can also cause it:
- High arches
- Little heel cushion
- Pes planus, or having a flat foot
- Being obese
Pes planus (flat feet) is a common culprit of foot problems. There are also certain risks to consider that can help determine if you’ll develop plantar fasciitis.
Your Age
Fasciitis commonly occurs in individuals who are between 40 and 60 years old. So, veterans can be at great risk of having foot pain.
Foot Mechanics
Another thing to consider is how your foot is shaped. For example, having a flat foot or a high arch can change weight distribution which causes strain on the plantar fascia ligament.
How is Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosed?
If you’re experiencing foot pain, there are several reasons why you may have it. For example, you may think it’s rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis typically affects the entire body, so if it’s only on one side, it’s more likely to be plantar fasciitis.
To get a proper diagnosis, you’ll need to see a medical professional. Typically, when you tell them you’re having foot pain, they will do a physical exam and check for inflammation. You may also be assessed for degenerative arthritis and other conditions.
Are you wondering, “how bad can plantar fascia be?” Well, it can be very painful. Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on a physical exam as well as:
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- MRI
Tests will rule out any other condition before diagnosing you with plantar fasciitis. If you have foot problems and are a veteran, you may qualify for VA disability benefits. It’s important to understand the disability rating for chronic plantar fasciitis.
What is the VA Disability Rating for Plantar Fasciitis?
If you’re a veteran suffering from foot pain from plantar fasciitis, you’re probably wondering what the VA disability rating is. It can be hard to keep up, as the VA proposes updates to disability ratings and diagnostic codes every so often.
Currently, the VA disability rating and diagnostic code for plantar fasciitis is a maximum of 30%. The majority of veterans will only get about 10%, which is much lower than what VA disability rates used to be.
When you’re filing a VA claim for chronic plantar fasciitis, the VA will look at the following:
- Current diagnosis
- Proof of events that caused the foot injury
- Evidence of how military service made the injury worse
What is the Evidence Needed for a VA Disability Claim for Plantar Fasciitis?
When you’re filing a claim for disabled veterans benefits, you’ll need to be able to connect your plantar fasciitis pain back to military service. It should be no surprise to the VA that, as someone in military service, you spend a lot of time on your feet. Pes planus and plantar fasciitis are very common in veterans.
You’ll need a diagnosis from a podiatrist for your VA claim, along with x-rays or other proof to connect your foot injury to the military. Even if you are a veteran that has been out of military service for a while, you may still be able to get a VA rating for a foot injury.
Trajector Disability Can Help
When you’re ready to file a VA claim for plantar fasciitis pain, the team at Trajector Disability can help. We can answer any questions you may have about your disability rating and how to make sure you provide the proper medical evidence.
