What can I claim secondary to pes planus?
3 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list pes planus as a factor. If DVA has accepted your pes planus, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionPes planus
- Conditions it may open3
- SourceRMA SoPs
- Chart Review$600 + GST
How a secondary claim works
Some Statement of Principles factors are not about service at all — they name another condition. Where DVA has already accepted your pes planus, and another condition's SoP lists pes planus as a factor, that part of the next claim is already established on your file. How a secondary claim works, in full →
Conditions that list pes planus as a factor
Quoted from the instrument. A pathway existing is not the same as a claim succeeding — each factor carries thresholds your record has to satisfy.
Achilles tendinopathy
RH No. 86 of 2024 · BoP No. 87 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having one or more of the following conditions involving the affected lower limb at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening: (a) pes planus; (b) pes cavus; (c) decreased ankle or forefoot flexibility; (d) forefoot varus; (e) lateral ankle joint instability” [onset and worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Hallux valgus
RH No. 25 of 2024 · BoP No. 26 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having pes planus of the affected foot before the clinical worsening of hallux valgus” [worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)
RH No. 96 of 2023 · BoP No. 97 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having pes planus of the affected limb before the clinical onset or clinical worsening of medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (4): “having pes planus of the affected limb before the clinical onset or clinical worsening of medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)” [onset and worsening]
Other accepted conditions that also open achilles tendinopathy
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions pes planus does.
What DVA means by pes planus
A claim is tested against the definition first. If the diagnosis on your file does not meet this wording, the factors below never get reached — so it is worth checking that what your doctor wrote matches what the instrument requires.
Pes planus, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, pes planus: (a) means a substantial collapse of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot that results in either: (i) medical treatment; or (ii) symptoms of medial foot pain; and (b) includes congenital pes planus, developmental pes planus, acquired pes planus, flexible pes planus and rigid pes planus.
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(13) to 9(27) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, pes planus where it was already present before or during service. If service caused pes planus outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 67 of 2021 · BoP No. 68 of 2021 · 23 factors
What could support a claim for pes planus?
The Statement of Principles for pes planus names 3 other conditions among its own factors. If any of these is already accepted on your file, it may be the factor that carries a pes planus claim — quoted here from the instrument.
Osteonecrosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (1): “having a fracture or osteonecrosis involving one or more tarsal or metatarsal bones of the medial longitudinal arch of the affected foot before the clinical onset of pes planus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (13): “having a fracture or osteonecrosis involving one or more tarsal or metatarsal bones of the medial longitudinal arch of the affected foot before the clinical worsening of pes planus” [worsening]
Joint instability
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (2): “having a dislocation of a joint or subluxation of a joint or joint instability involving one or more tarsal or metatarsal bones of the medial longitudinal arch of the affected foot before the clinical onset of pes planus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (14): “having a dislocation of a joint or subluxation of a joint or joint instability involving one or more tarsal or metatarsal bones of the medial longitudinal arch of the affected foot before the clinical worsening of pes planus” [worsening]
Posterior tibialis tendinopathy
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (8): “having posterior tibialis tendinopathy at the time of the clinical onset of pes planus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (20): “having posterior tibialis tendinopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of pes planus” [worsening]
Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins
Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →
Pes planus accepted?
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