Claim Raven explanation
What this means
Pelvic fractures can leave different kinds of residual disability. This section directs evaluation toward the specific lasting effects, such as posture changes, limited movement, muscle injury, or nerve involvement.
The fact that a fracture healed does not by itself describe all of its residuals. Conversely, several symptoms do not automatically establish several separate ratings; the applicable codes and overlap rules still matter.
How this helps your claim
This helps you organize the record around the particular functions affected by the fracture. Compare the old injury and current findings instead of relying only on the diagnosis name.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Locate the original fracture and treatment records.
- Identify current hip, spine, muscle, or nerve findings linked in the medical record.
- Compare each documented residual with what the decision evaluated.
Follow the specific residuals of the pelvic injury
A pelvic fracture can leave several kinds of effects, including altered posture, movement limitation, muscle injury or nerve involvement. The current report should identify which are actually present rather than relying only on the historical fracture diagnosis.
Organize the residual findings by function and anatomical structure. This helps connect each concern with the appropriate diagnostic criteria. It also helps identify overlap, because describing the same walking limitation in several ways does not necessarily establish several independently ratable disabilities.
Does a healed pelvis mean there is nothing left to evaluate?
Not necessarily. Healing of the fracture and persistence of disabling residuals are different questions. Current medical findings are needed to describe those residuals and apply the relevant codes. A past fracture alone likewise does not establish that every later pelvic or leg symptom is a residual.
Official regulatory text
38 CFR § 4.67
eCFR snapshot: September 3, 2026. Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The full section and its tables are included below.
§ 4.67 Pelvic bones.
The variability of residuals following these fractures necessitates rating on specific residuals, faulty posture, limitation of motion, muscle injury, painful motion of the lumbar spine, manifest by muscle spasm, mild to moderate sciatic neuritis, peripheral nerve injury, or limitation of hip motion.
Related references
- 38 CFR § 4.1: What a VA disability rating measures
- 38 CFR § 3.159: VA duty to assist: records and examinations
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