A Veteran’s Guide to VA Disability Ratings for Shin Splints

Shin splints, medically known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS), involve pain along the inner edge of your shinbone (tibia). Common symptoms include sharp, dull, or throbbing pain, tenderness, and swelling along the shin, especially after physical activity. Military service members frequently encounter this condition due to intense physical demands, such as marching, running, or carrying heavy gear. 

Who Gets Shin Splints? 

Shin splints often affect military personnel, particularly new recruits during basic training. Studies indicate that 17% to 35% of recruits experience this condition with women at a higher risk compared to their male counterparts. In one study of naval recruits, 53% of females developed shin splints, whereas 28% of males did. Overall, approximately 55% of all shin splint cases in the military involve women. 

Women typically have smaller bones in their lower legs, making them less able to handle repeated stress. They also have more flexible hips, changing how they run or walk and placing more strain on their shins. Foot shape matters too; flat feet or excessive foot pronation (feet rolling inward) raise the risk of shin splints. 

What Is the VA Rating for Shin Splints?

The VA rates shin splints from 0% to 30% according to Diagnostic Code 5262. Ratings depend on how severe and lasting the symptoms are, how the condition responds to treatment, and how shin splints affect the veteran’s daily life.

• 30% Disability Rating (Bilateral): The highest rating is assigned when both legs have chronic shin splints. To qualify, symptoms must last at least one full year without meaningful improvement. Veterans must show they’ve tried both surgical methods (if recommended by doctors) and multiple conservative treatments—such as shoe inserts, physical therapy, braces, pain medications, and rest—but symptoms remain unresolved. At this level, documentation should detail persistent discomfort, limitations on movement, and significant impact on daily tasks or job-related duties. 
• 20% Disability Rating (Unilateral): A 20% rating applies when one leg experiences severe, chronic shin splints. Like the bilateral rating, the condition must persist continuously for at least 12 months. Medical records need to clearly indicate that all conventional treatments—both surgical (when applicable) and non-surgical—have failed to provide significant relief. Veterans should document detailed evidence of attempts at multiple treatments and highlight any persistent functional impairments or lifestyle adjustments they’ve had to make due to ongoing symptoms. 
• 10% Disability Rating: This can apply to either one or both legs, provided shin splints have lasted consistently for 12 months or more. Unlike higher ratings, this rating does not require attempts at surgical treatments. It specifically acknowledges that conservative treatments such as orthotic shoe inserts, physical therapy, stretching exercises, or pain medications have been consistently tried but have failed to adequately relieve symptoms. Documentation should clearly reflect the treatment duration, demonstrate that symptoms continue to affect daily activities, and show minimal relief despite diligent conservative treatment. 
• 0% Disability Rating: This is assigned for shin splints that have been treated for less than 12 months, regardless of severity or whether symptoms affect one or both legs. This rating does not provide monthly monetary compensation but formally recognizes the condition. Veterans should still thoroughly document their condition and treatment, as a 0% rating can later be increased if the condition persists or worsens beyond 12 months. 

Keep in mind: Severity of symptoms alone doesn’t determine your rating. You must document treatments tried, duration of symptoms, and how shin splints affect your daily life. 

If you initially received a lower rating and your condition worsened, you may request an increase with updated medical evidence. Get a free evaluation of your case here.

How the VA Determines Your Rating

The VA evaluates three main factors when rating shin splints: 

1. Length of Treatment – Your condition should have documented treatment for at least 12 months for a higher rating. Clearly list appointment dates, treatments tried, and outcomes. Continuous care shows the VA your condition is serious and long-lasting.  
2. Severity and Response to Treatment – Record every treatment method tried (shoe inserts, braces, therapy, medications, or surgery) and how well each worked (or didn’t). Include notes about your pain (describe sharpness, dullness, severity and frequency, as well as statements from healthcare providers describing how difficult or resistant your shin splints have been to treat. If symptoms improved temporarily but returned, document these details specifically. 
3. Impact on Your Life – Clearly show how shin splints limit your daily activities or job. Document if you’ve missed work, changed jobs, or modified daily tasks due to pain. Note any difficulty in activities like walking, standing for long periods, running, or exercising. Include specific examples, such as needing breaks after short periods of activity, inability to perform physical exercise required by your occupation, or modifications you’ve made to your daily routine. Written statements from family or coworkers about your struggles strengthen your claim. 

The VA relies heavily on detailed, accurate, and consistent medical and lay evidence. The more thoroughly you illustrate how shin splints have affected your life, the better your chances of securing an appropriate disability rating. 

How to Service Connect Shin Splints 

To qualify for VA benefits, you must link your shin splints to military service. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Current Diagnosis – A medical diagnosis confirming shin splints, detailing symptoms, treatments, and outcomes. 
• Proof from Service – Military medical records indicating diagnosis or treatment, personnel records showing physical demands (marches, running, heavy lifting), limited-duty reports related to shin splints or other documentation of specific events (training exercises, deployments) linked to your condition 
• Medical Nexus – A clear statement from a doctor saying your shin splints are “at least as likely as not” caused by military service.  

Supporting statements from friends, family, or fellow service members who witnessed your condition also help build your case. 

Service Connection by Aggravation

If your shin splints existed before you joined the military, you may still qualify for VA disability if the condition significantly worsened during service due to stressors such as intense physical activities with limited recovery time, wearing combat boots with insufficient support, etc.  

To establish aggravation, you’ll need to document the increase in the severity of your shin splints from before to after your service. This could mean providing records that show progression from occasional pain to a chronic condition and medical interventions (like physical therapy, bracing, or medications) that weren’t needed before military service.

Secondary Service Connection 

Pre-existing conditions can also cause or worsen shin splints, including: 

• Flat Feet (Pes Planus) – Flat feet cause your foot to roll inward excessively (overpronation). This unusual foot movement puts extra strain on your shin muscles and bones, significantly increasing the risk of shin splints.  
• Plantar Fasciitis – This inflammation of the tissue connecting your heel to your toes can change the way you walk due to heel pain. The altered gait places additional strain on your shins, increasing the risk of shin splints. 
• Joint Problems – Issues in your ankles, knees, or hips may affect your natural movement patterns. Conditions like arthritis or previous joint injuries cause gait changes, which place extra stress on your lower legs, potentially leading to shin splints.

Secondary Conditions to Shin Splints

Shin splints don’t always stop at just causing pain in your lower legs—they often trigger additional issues in other parts of your body. You can claim these as secondary conditions, increasing your VA benefits. Common secondary conditions to shin splints include: 

• Knee Problems – When your shins hurt, you may unknowingly shift weight to your knees. This shift can lead to increased wear on knee joints, causing issues like patellar tendonitis, ligament strain, or even arthritis. 
• Hip and Pelvic Issues – To ease pain in your shins, your hips may adjust their natural alignment, placing extra stress on the hip joints and pelvic muscles. Over time, this can cause inflammation, joint dysfunction, or chronic pain conditions such as bursitis. 
• Back Pain and Spinal Issues – Changing your walking pattern due to shin pain can put uneven pressure on your lower back. This uneven pressure may lead to muscle strain, disc problems, or chronic lower back pain.

The VA allows veterans to claim these secondary conditions as service-connected disabilities, potentially increasing your overall disability rating and compensation. To successfully claim secondary conditions, you must clearly demonstrate the link between your shin splints and the secondary issue. 

Claiming secondary conditions not only accurately reflects the full scope of your service-related disabilities but also ensures you’re properly compensated for all injuries resulting from your initial shin splint condition. Thorough documentation and clear medical connections are key to making successful secondary service-connection claims with the VA. 

The VA Claims Process Explained

Step 1: File Your Claim 

• Online through VA.gov (fastest) or by mailing VA Form 21-526EZ. 
• Include all medical, service, and supporting records.     

Step 2: Attend Your Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exam 

After submitting your claim, the VA often schedules a Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination to determine your condition’s severity and confirm its link to your military service.  

• Attend the Exam – Missing this appointment can severely damage your claim. If you must reschedule, contact the VA immediately. 
• Be Prepared – Bring all relevant medical records with you. Even though the examiner will already have your file, having your own records can help clarify details if questions arise. 
• Clearly Communicate Symptoms – Explain your symptoms in detail. Be honest about pain levels, frequency, limitations in daily activities, and how treatments have or haven’t worked. The examiner needs a clear picture of your daily struggles. 
• Stay Consistent – Ensure what you tell the examiner matches your submitted documents. Consistency strengthens your credibility.      

The examiner will document your symptoms, evaluate your medical history, and possibly conduct physical assessments or request additional imaging studies, such as X-rays or MRIs, if needed.

Step 3: Receive the VA Decision 

After reviewing your claim and the results from your C&P exam, the VA makes a decision on your case. The decision-making process involves several important elements: 

• Reviewing Evidence – VA rating specialists carefully review all submitted evidence, including medical records, service history, your personal statements, and the results of the C&P exam. 
• Assigning Your Disability Rating – Based on the severity of your shin splints, duration, treatment outcomes, and functional limitations, the VA assigns you a disability rating (0%, 10%, 20%, or 30%). This rating directly determines your monthly compensation amount. 
• Notification – You will receive a detailed decision letter, which includes your VA disability percentage and explanation, reasons for approval or denial and instructions on how to appeal if you disagree with the decision or the assigned rating.      

Step 4: Appeal or Request an Increase  

• Appealing Your Decision – If you’re unhappy with the VA’s decision or believe your rating should be higher, you have the right to appeal. The appeal process allows you to submit new or additional evidence supporting your claim. 
• Monitoring and Updating Your Claim – If your shin splints worsen after receiving a rating, you can request a rating increase by providing updated medical evidence showing increased severity.      

Common Reasons for Claim Denial and How to Address Them 

Claims for shin splints can face denial due to: 

• Lack of Current Diagnosis: Always include recent medical documentation clearly diagnosing shin splints. 
• Weak Nexus Evidence: Bolster your claim with a strong medical nexus explicitly linking your condition to service. 
• Insufficient Severity Documentation: Ensure your records thoroughly document ongoing symptoms, treatments, and functional limitations.       

If denied, promptly file an appeal, ideally with updated evidence or professional legal assistance from a veterans’ law expert or VA-accredited representative. 

Eligibility for Additional Compensation (TDIU) 

If your shin splints severely limit your ability to work, you may qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which pays benefits at a 100% disability rate. Provide clear evidence that shin splints prevent you from keeping steady employment—medical opinions, employer statements, or vocational assessments. 

Hill & Ponton Supports Veterans with Shin Splints 

Dealing with shin splints can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this alone. At Hill & Ponton, our experienced veterans’ disability attorneys have helped thousands of veterans secure the compensation they deserve. Call us today and let us fight on your behalf.

Content Reviewed by

Attorney Melanie Williams

Attorney Melanie Williams, a dedicated advocate for underprivileged populations, brings her passion for justice and extensive legal experience to Hill & Ponton, where she focuses on veterans’ disability law.