Body system: Musculoskeletal SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.71a
DC 5275 covers shortening of one leg (bones of the lower extremity). The VA rates it by the measured difference between the legs: 10% for 1.25 to 2 inches, 20% for 2 to 2.5 inches, 30% for 2.5 to 3 inches, 40% for 3 to 3.5 inches, 50% for 3.5 to 4 inches and 60% for more than 4 inches (38 CFR 4.71a). The regulation does not allow it to be combined with other ratings for fracture or faulty union in the same leg.
Rating levels
- 60% — One of your leg bones is more than 4 inches shorter than it should be compared to your other leg. This significant shortening could be from a break that didn't heal properly, bone loss from injury or disease, or a congenital condition that affects your ability to walk normally and puts strain on your back and other joints.
- 50% — Your leg is shorter than the other leg by 3½ to 4 inches (measured from hip to ankle). This significant difference in leg length affects your walking, balance, and overall mobility, typically requiring special shoes, lifts, or other accommodations to help you function normally.
- 40% — Your leg bone is between 3 to 3½ inches shorter than it should be compared to your other leg. This significant shortening would be measured by comparing the length of your affected leg to your unaffected leg, or to what the normal length should be based on your body structure.
- 30% — Your leg bone has been shortened by 2.5 to 3 inches compared to your other leg due to injury or disease. This level of shortening (where one leg is noticeably shorter than the other) typically causes a significant limp and may require special shoes or other accommodations to walk properly.
- 20% — Your leg bone is shorter than it should be by 2 to 2½ inches compared to your other leg or to normal length. This shortening could be in your thigh bone (femur) or shin bone (tibia/fibula) and is measured as the actual difference in bone length, not just how your legs appear when standing.
- 10% — You qualify for this rating if one of your legs is between 1.25 inches and 2 inches shorter than the other leg due to a bone condition or injury. The shortening must be measurable and caused by problems with the actual bones in your leg (femur, tibia, or fibula), not just soft tissue or muscle issues.