VA Disability Rating for Hammer toe (DC 5282)

Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71aDBQ: DBQ MUSC Foot Conditions including flatfoot (pes planus)

Hammer toe is when one or more of your toes gets stuck in a bent position, looking like a hammer. The VA rates this condition from 0% to 10% depending on how many toes are affected. You'll get 10% if all your toes on one foot have hammer toe (without claw foot, which is a related but different condition), or 0% if just one toe is affected.

Rating levels

  • 10% — This rating applies when hammer toe affects all of your toes on one foot (unilateral means one side), but you don't also have claw foot (a more severe condition where the arch of your foot collapses and your toes curl downward like claws). The hammer toe condition involves your toes being permanently bent or curled at the middle joint, making them look like little hammers.
  • 0% — If you have hammer toe affecting just one toe, you would qualify for this rating level. Hammer toe is when a toe becomes bent or curled downward at the middle joint, making it look like a hammer. This applies whether the affected toe can still be straightened out manually or if it's permanently stuck in the bent position.

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with your VSO representative or a qualified veterans benefits attorney for guidance on your specific claim.