Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis of — VA Diagnostic Code 5272

38 CFR § 4.71 says Plates I and II provide a standardized description of ankylosis and joint motion measurement. The anatomical position is considered as 0°, with the two major exceptions named in that section. The DC 5272 lines do not state a degree. They state poor weight-bearing position and good weight-bearing position. DC 5270 is ankle ankylosis in the same table. DC 5271 is limited motion of the ankle. The public page for limited ankle motion is the ankle guide. DC 5273 is malunion of the os calcis or astragalus: marked deformity 20, moderate deformity 10.

DC 5167 is loss of use of the foot, superscript 2 and 40, in the lower-extremity amputation table. DC 5284 is “Foot injuries, other,” and its note says: “With actual loss of use of the foot, rate 40 percent.” That sentence is not printed on DC 5272. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided. The same section says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses are to be avoided.

The code prints no 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. 38 CFR § 4.68 says the combined rating for disabilities of an extremity shall not exceed the rating for the amputation at the elective level, were amputation to be performed. The example is diagnostic code 5165. The example does not name DC 5272.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5272, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.