38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.71a
Weak foot, bilateral — VA Diagnostic Code 5277
Musculoskeletal
Diagnostic code
5277
38 CFR § 4.71a lists Diagnostic Code 5277 in the table captioned “The Foot.” The title is “Weak foot, bilateral:”. The next cell describes a symptomatic condition secondary to many constitutional conditions, characterized by atrophy of the musculature, disturbed circulation, and weakness. That cell has no number. The following line is “Rate the underlying condition, minimum rating” at 10. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Weak foot, bilateral.” with a period.
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.71a source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969; 40 FR 42536, Sept. 15, 1975; 41 FR 11294, Mar. 18, 1976; 43 FR 45350, Oct. 2, 1978; 51 FR 6411, Feb. 24, 1986; 61 FR 20439, May 7, 1996; 67 FR 48785, July 26, 2002; 67 FR 54349, Aug. 22, 2002; 68 FR 51456, Aug. 27, 2003; 69 FR 32450, June 10, 2004; 80 FR 42041, July 16, 2015; 85 FR 76460, Nov. 30, 2020, 85 FR 85523, Dec. 29, 2020, 86 FR 8142, Feb. 4, 2021. The § 4.69 source note prints 62 FR 30239, June 3, 1997. The § 4.63 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 43 FR 45349, Oct. 2, 1978. The § 4.71 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 43 FR 45349, Oct. 2, 1978; 67 FR 48785, July 26, 2002. The § 4.26 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 88 FR 22917, Apr. 14, 2023.
The rating criteria at each level
5277 Weak foot, bilateral
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). A symptomatic condition secondary to many constitutional conditions, characterized by atrophy of the musculature, disturbed circulation, and weakness:
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Rate the underlying condition, minimum rating
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | A symptomatic condition secondary to many constitutional conditions, characterized by atrophy of the musculature, disturbed circulation, and weakness: |
| 10 | Rate the underlying condition, minimum rating |
The description cell ends with a colon and does not carry a rating. The 10 is on the next line, “Rate the underlying condition, minimum rating.” That line does not end with a period.
The title says “bilateral.” The table does not print a separate unilateral line for DC 5277.
The Foot table has one Rating column. It does not split Major and Minor.
The words “many constitutional conditions” are the schedule’s words. The row does not name those conditions. It says to rate the underlying condition, with a minimum rating of 10. 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 § 4.26 is the bilateral factor. Paragraph (c) says the bilateral factor is not applicable unless there is partial disability of compensable degree in each of 2 paired extremities, or paired skeletal muscles. The 10 on DC 5277 is the minimum rating printed on that row. It is not the 10 percent added under § 4.26. DC 5276 is acquired flatfoot. Its public page is flat feet. That code prints separate bilateral and unilateral lines. DC 5277 does not. DC 5278 is acquired claw foot (pes cavus), which also prints bilateral and unilateral lines.
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 § 4.14 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.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5277, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Minimum rating 10
The only number on DC 5277 is 10, on the line “Rate the underlying condition, minimum rating.” The description of atrophy, disturbed circulation, and weakness sits in the cell above that number.
Bilateral is in the title
The title is “Weak foot, bilateral:”. The schedule does not add a unilateral percentage under this code. Acquired flatfoot, DC 5276, is the nearby code that prints bilateral and unilateral lines.
Appendix B keeps the comma
Appendix B says “Weak foot, bilateral.” The rating title uses the same words and ends with a colon.
Evidence that speaks to each level
10 minimum
What the rater needs to see. The symptomatic condition the title cell describes, rated as the underlying condition, and not below the printed minimum of 10.
Where that usually lives. The examination that describes the foot findings and the underlying condition the decision uses.
The underlying condition
What the rater needs to see. The row says to rate the underlying condition. It does not name a second diagnostic code.
Where that usually lives. The same decision, for whichever code it uses for that underlying condition.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Foot Conditions Including Flatfoot (Pes Planus)” under Musculoskeletal. The file is Foot Conditions Including Flatfoot (Pes Planus).
The exam form
DC 5277 prints a minimum of 10 and tells the reader to rate the underlying condition. This page does not say the foot form replaces that line.
Related codes and how they interact
Flatfoot and claw foot print their own bilateral lines.
DC 5276 is acquired flatfoot. DC 5278 is acquired claw foot. Both print bilateral and unilateral percentages. DC 5277’s title is already “bilateral,” and its only number is the minimum of 10.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “weak foot.” DC 5277 is a rating-schedule line.
A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.
Short answers
How does VA rate bilateral weak foot under DC 5277?
Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, the row says to rate the underlying condition, with a minimum rating of 10. The description names atrophy of the musculature, disturbed circulation, and weakness. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
What does Appendix B call this code?
Appendix B indexes “Weak foot, bilateral.” The rating title ends with a colon instead of a period.
FAQ
What percentage does DC 5277 print?
10, on the line “Rate the underlying condition, minimum rating.” The cell above that line describes the symptomatic condition and does not carry its own number. Education only.
Is the 10 the bilateral factor?
No. The 10 is the minimum rating on the DC 5277 row. Section 4.26 is a separate rule about adding 10 percent of a combined value when paired extremities each have a compensable disability. The DC 5277 row does not cite § 4.26.
Does weak foot have a unilateral line?
DC 5277’s title is “Weak foot, bilateral:”. It does not print a unilateral percentage. Acquired flatfoot is DC 5276, and that code does print unilateral lines.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 5277, the underlying condition it rated, and whether it applied the minimum of 10.
- The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
- Other musculoskeletal codes are on the musculoskeletal diagnostic-code index. The foot page is the foot guide.
Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.
Other codes in this body system
Nearby catalog entries in Musculoskeletal, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Musculoskeletal codes
- DC 5269Plantar fasciitis
- DC 5270Ankle, ankylosis
- DC 5271Ankle, limited motion
- DC 5272Subastragalar or tarsal joint, ankylosis
- DC 5273Os calcis or astragalus, malunion
- DC 5274Astragalectomy
- DC 5275Lower extremity bones, shortening
- DC 5276Flatfoot, acquired
- DC 5278Claw foot (pes cavus), acquired
- DC 5279Metatarsalgia, anterior (Morton's disease)
- DC 5280Hallux valgus
- DC 5281Hallux rigidus
- DC 5282Hammer toe
- DC 5283Tarsal or metatarsal bones, malunion or nonunion
- DC 5284Foot injuries, other
- DC 5295Lumbosacral strain (legacy — pre-9/26/2003 schedule)
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 5277 • va.gov
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.