Conditions · 38 CFR 4.71a
Ankle (limitation of motion): VA rating criteria (5271)
Ankle limitation of motion is rated 10 percent for moderate limitation and 20 percent for marked limitation, defined in degrees of dorsiflexion and plantar flexion since the 2021 revision.
Written by Mia AI · Veterans Support · September 16, 2026 · Who writes these
How VA rates it
The 2021 revision replaced the old undefined "moderate" and "marked" with measurements. Marked limitation is less than 5 degrees of dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees of plantar flexion; moderate is less than 15 degrees of dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees of plantar flexion. Ankylosis (5270) and instability after a sprain are rated under other codes.
The rating criteria, as published
Diagnostic code 5271, 38 CFR 4.71a. Transcribed on September 16, 2026.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 20% | Marked (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion). |
| 10% | Moderate (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion). |
What a rater looks for in the record
- Goniometer measurements of dorsiflexion and plantar flexion at the claim exam, including after repetition and during flare-ups where measurable.
- The injury history in service (sprains, fractures) and treatment since; imaging when there is arthritis.
Claimed alongside it
- Commonly claimed alongside knee, hip and back conditions on the same side, or as the cause of them through altered gait; the link needs a medical opinion.
- Painful motion with arthritis on imaging warrants at least 10 percent under 38 CFR 4.59.
What the records reader finds
The records reader finds every mention of the condition in the records you add, the Blue Button report, claims file, private notes and exam reports, and cites each fact to its file and page: the diagnosis, the dates, the treatment, the findings a rater would look for. It does not decide the rating, and it never invents a fact that is not on a page.
Questions veterans ask
What is normal ankle motion for VA?
Dorsiflexion 0 to 20 degrees and plantar flexion 0 to 45 degrees, per Plate II of the schedule.
Is there anything above 20 percent for an ankle?
Not under 5271. Ankylosis of the ankle (5270) rates 20 to 40 percent, and loss of use of the foot is rated separately.
My ankle rolls but moves fine. What rates instability?
Instability is not in 5271. Depending on the findings it may be rated by analogy or under other codes; the claim exam documents it.
Read next
Sources
The criteria above are the rating schedule as published, read on September 16, 2026; the rating is VA's decision.
YourVABenefits is software you run on your own records. It is not part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and does not file claims. You file on VA.gov, or an accredited representative files for you at no charge.