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Tibia Fracture (Residuals)
DC 5262 | 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5262 |
Tibia Fracture (Residuals) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5262 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5262 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 pain, malunion, and limited function from a healed tibial shaft fracture affecting knee and ankle joints
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
40%
DC 5262 "Tibia and fibula, impairment of: Nonunion of, with loose motion, requiring brace" = 40%. (Verbatim § 4.71a DC 5262.) Tibial nonunion with palpable mobility at fracture site + documented brace prescription.
30%
DC 5262 Malunion via DC 5256 "Knee ankylosis 0-10°" = 30%, OR DC 5260 "Knee flexion limited to 15°" = 30%, OR DC 5261 "Knee extension limited to 20°" = 30%, OR DC 5270 "Ankle ankylosis between 30-40° plantar flexion or 0-10° dorsiflexion" = 30%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.) For tibial plateau or plafond fractures with severe post-traumatic OA reaching ankylosis-equivalent functional loss.
20%
DC 5262 Malunion via DC 5260 "Flexion limited to 30°" = 20%; DC 5261 "Extension limited to 15°" = 20%; DC 5270 "Ankle ankylosis plantar flexion <30°" = 20%; DC 5271 "Ankle marked limited motion" = 20%; OR — DC 5257 "Recurrent subluxation or instability" with prescribed support = 20%; OR — DC 5003 X-ray-only "2+ major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations" = 20%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
10%
DC 5262 Malunion via DC 5260 "Flexion limited to 45°" = 10%; DC 5261 "Extension limited to 10°" = 10%; DC 5271 "Ankle moderate limited motion" = 10%; OR — DC 5257 instability without prescribed support = 10%; OR — DC 5003 single-joint fallback with painful motion = 10%. (Verbatim § 4.71a.)
0%
Tibia fracture fully healed with normal ROM at knee AND ankle, no nonunion / malunion findings, no painful-motion residuals.
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