Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5271
Ankle, Limitation of Motion Secondary to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints)
A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Ankle, Limitation of Motion when it develops after Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints).
Why Ankle, Limitation of Motion Is Linked to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints)
Malunion alters joint mechanics over time.
Primary condition · VASRD 5262
Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints)
DC 5262 covers impairment of the tibia and fibula — the two bones of the lower leg. Since the 2021 rewrite it rates two things directly: shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome), graded almost entirely on how long they have been treated and what treatment has failed; and nonunion of the tibia and fibula with loose motion requiring a brace. If the bones healed but healed crooked, the schedule sends that malunion to the knee or ankle codes to be rated there.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5271
Ankle, Limitation of Motion
Reduced ability to flex or extend the ankle, usually due to injury or arthritis.
Ankle, Limitation of Motion VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Ankle, Limitation of Motion the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints) — severity of Ankle, Limitation of Motion itself determines the percentage.
Example combined rating
20% Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints) + 10% Ankle, Limitation of Motion = 28%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 20% and 10% combine to 28%, not 30%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
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Get the rating criteria for Ankle, Limitation of Motion, the evidence a secondary claim needs, and why it is linked to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints) — delivered to your inbox.
Evidence for a Ankle, Limitation of Motion Secondary Claim
- •An orthopedic exam specifically documenting range-of-motion measurements.
- •X-rays or an MRI showing the underlying cause of the limitation.
Common questions about Ankle, Limitation of Motion secondary to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints)
- Can Ankle, Limitation of Motion be service-connected as secondary to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints)?
- Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Malunion alters joint mechanics over time. You'll need a current Ankle, Limitation of Motion diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-conne…
- What VA rating can I get for Ankle, Limitation of Motion as a secondary condition?
- Ankle, Limitation of Motion is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5271 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 20%, 10%. The rating depends on the severity of Ankle, Limitation of Motion itself, not on the severity of Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints…
- How does a secondary Ankle, Limitation of Motion claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 20% rating for Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints) combined with a 10% rating for Ankle, Limitation of Motion (example figures) produces a combined rating of 28%, not 30%. Approving Ankle, Limitation…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Ankle, Limitation of Motion as secondary to Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints)?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Ankle, Limitation of Motion diagnosis includes: An orthopedic exam specifically documenting range-of-motion measurements.; X-rays or an MRI showing the underlying cause of the limitation.. For the secondary link itself, a nexus letter from a treating provider explaining how Tibia and…
Primary condition
Full Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints) guide
Secondary condition
Full Ankle, Limitation of Motion guide
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See how Tibia and Fibula, Impairment of (Including Shin Splints) and Ankle, Limitation of Motion combine with the rest of your service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.
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