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Ankle Fracture Residuals
DC 5270 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5270 |
Ankle Fracture Residuals is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5270 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5270 across 5 severity tiers (40% / 30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Residual limitations from a healed ankle fracture including reduced range of motion, chronic pain, and instability with weight-bearing
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5270 "Ankle, ankylosis of: In plantar flexion at more than 40°, or in dorsiflexion at more than 10° or with abduction, adduction, inversion or eversion deformity" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5270.) Severe post-traumatic ankle ankylosis with significant fixed deformity.
30%
DC 5270 "Ankle, ankylosis of: In plantar flexion, between 30° and 40°, or in dorsiflexion, between 0° and 10°" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5270.)
20%
DC 5270 "Ankle, ankylosis: plantar flexion <30°" = 20%; DC 5271 "Ankle, limited motion: Marked (<5° dorsiflexion or <10° plantar flexion)" = 20%; DC 5272 "Subastragalar / tarsal joint, ankylosis: In poor weight-bearing position" = 20%; DC 5273 "Os calcis / astragalus, malunion: Marked deformity" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
10%
DC 5271 "Ankle, limited motion: Moderate (<15° dorsiflexion or <30° plantar flexion)" = 10%; DC 5272 "Subastragalar / tarsal ankylosis: In good weight-bearing position" = 10%; DC 5273 "Os calcis / astragalus, moderate deformity" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback (ankle is one major joint) with painful motion / swelling = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Ankle fracture residuals fully healed with normal ROM (dorsiflexion ≥15° AND plantar flexion ≥30°), no ankylosis, no subastragalar / tarsal involvement, no malunion findings, no painful-motion findings.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026