The Board denied entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right and left leg shin splints prior to February 7, 2021, as the disability picture did not more nearly approximate malunion of the tibia or fibula with slight knee or ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The criteria for an initial compensable rating were not met due to a lack of evidence showing functional impairment in either the knee or the ankle due to the shin splints.
- Claimed conditions
- right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- 25005395
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for upper chest wall pain and right sciatic radicular pain, while remanding claims for secondary service connection involving the feet, legs, and ankles.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left ankle achilles tendinopathy, post-traumatic (concussion) headaches, and TBI. The appeal for an earlier effective date was also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral shin splints, a bilateral knee disability, a left shoulder disability, and a left chest disability, as well as a rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and evaluation of the conditions before a decision was made.
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