EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Fibula Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5262 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5262 |
Fibula Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5262 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5262 across 4 severity tiers (40% / 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 pain and limited function from a healed fibula fracture in the lower leg, potentially affecting ankle stability
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5262 "Tibia and fibula, impairment of: Nonunion of, with loose motion, requiring brace" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5262.) Rare for isolated fibula — most non-union cases involve combined tibia/fibula fractures.
20%
DC 5262 Malunion via DC 5270 "Ankle ankylosis plantar flexion <30°" = 20%; DC 5271 "Ankle marked limited motion" = 20%; DC 5273 "Os calcis / astragalus malunion, marked deformity" = 20% (when lateral malleolus malunion produces talar tilt / secondary ankle malalignment). (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
10%
DC 5262 Malunion via DC 5271 "Ankle moderate limited motion" = 10%; DC 5273 "Os calcis / astragalus malunion, moderate deformity" = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback (ankle is one major joint per § 4.45) with painful motion at lateral ankle = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Isolated fibula fracture fully healed without ankle / proximal tibiofibular impact. No compensable residual under DC 5271 (dorsiflexion ≥15° AND plantar flexion ≥30°) and 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