The veteran is not entitled to a separate rating for the shortening of his service-connected left leg, as it is prohibited by VA regulations due to the combination of ratings for fracture and shortening.
The deciding factor: VA regulations prohibit the combination of a rating for shortening of a lower extremity with an evaluation for fracture or faulty union in the same extremity.
- Claimed conditions
- compound fracture of left leg, shortening of left leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 21, 2002
- Citation
- 0206727
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0206727.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for eczema but dismissed the appeal for a compensable evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and denied compensable evaluations for shortening of both legs.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in measurements and the Veteran's recent increase in fall frequency. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine his current leg discrepancy.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran currently experiences deformity and shortening of the left leg, which is a result of treatment provided by VA in January 1989. The Board finds that this additional disability was caused by VA's provision of care without the Veteran's informed consent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing one-inch shortening of the left leg existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection for his current left lower leg disability is denied.
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