38 C.F.R. § 4.73

Schedule of ratings—muscle injuries

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Note (1):

When evaluating any claim involving muscle injuries resulting in loss of use of any extremity or loss of use of both buttocks (diagnostic code 5317, Muscle Group XVII), refer to § 3.350 of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation.

Note (2):

Ratings of slight, moderate, moderately severe, or severe for diagnostic codes 5301 through 5323 will be determined based upon the criteria contained in § 4.56.

The Shoulder Girdle and Arm
	Rating
	Dominant	Nondominant
5301 Group I. Function: Upward rotation of scapula; elevation of arm above shoulder level. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Trapezius; (2) levator scapulae; (3) serratus magnus
Severe	40	30
Moderately Severe	30	20
Moderate	10	10
Slight	0	0
5302 Group II. Function: Depression of arm from vertical overhead to hanging at side (1, 2); downward rotation of scapula (3, 4); 1 and 2 act with Group III in forward and backward swing of arm. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Pectoralis major II (costosternal); (2) latissimus dorsi and teres major (teres major, although technically an intrinsic muscle, is included with latissimus dorsi); (3) pectoralis minor; (4) rhomboid
Severe	40	30
Moderately Severe	30	20
Moderate	20	20
Slight	0	0
5303 Group III. Function: Elevation and abduction of arm to level of shoulder; act with 1 and 2 of Group II in forward and backward swing of arm. Intrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Pectoralis major I (clavicular); (2) deltoid
Severe	40	30
Moderately Severe	30	20
Moderate	20	20
Slight	0	0
5304 Group IV. Function: Stabilization of shoulder against injury in strong movements, holding head of humerus in socket; abduction; outward rotation and inward rotation of arm. Intrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: (1) Supraspinatus; (2) infraspinatus and teres minor; (3) subscapularis; (4) coracobrachialis
Severe	30	20
Moderately Severe	20	20
Moderate	10	10
Slight	0	0
5305 Group V. Function: Elbow supination (1) (long head of biceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint); flexion of elbow (1, 2, 3). Flexor muscles of elbow: (1) Biceps; (2) brachialis; (3) brachioradialis
Severe	40	30
Moderately Severe	30	20
Moderate	10	10
Slight	0	0
5306 Group VI. Function: Extension of elbow (long head of triceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint). Extensor muscles of the elbow: (1) Triceps; (2) anconeus.
Severe	40	30
Moderately Severe	30	20
Moderate	10	10
Slight	0	0

The Forearm and Hand
	Rating
	Dominant	Nondominant
5307 Group VII. Function: Flexion of wrist and fingers. Muscles arising from internal condyle of humerus: Flexors of the carpus and long flexors of fingers and thumb; pronator
Severe	40	30
Moderately Severe	30	20
Moderate	10	10
Slight	0	0
5308 Group VIII. Function: Extension of wrist, fingers, and thumb; abduction of thumb. Muscles arising mainly from external condyle of humerus: Extensors of carpus, fingers, and thumb; supinator
Severe	30	20
Moderately Severe	20	20
Moderate	10	10
Slight	0	0
5309 Group IX. Function: The forearm muscles act in strong grasping movements and are supplemented by the intrinsic muscles in delicate manipulative movements. Intrinsic muscles of hand: Thenar eminence; short flexor, opponens, abductor and adductor of thumb; hypothenar eminence; short flexor, opponens and abductor of little finger; 4 lumbricales; 4 dorsal and 3 palmar interossei
Note: The hand is so compact a structure that isolated muscle injuries are rare, being nearly always complicated with injuries of bones, joints, tendons, etc. Rate on limitation of motion, minimum 10 percent.

The Foot and Leg
	Rating
5310 Group X. Function: Movements of forefoot and toes; propulsion thrust in walking. Intrinsic muscles of the foot: Plantar: (1) Flexor digitorum brevis; (2) abductor hallucis; (3) abductor digiti minimi; (4) quadratus plantae; (5) lumbricales; (6) flexor hallucis brevis; (7) adductor hallucis; (8) flexor digiti minimi brevis; (9) dorsal and plantar interossei. Other important plantar structures: Plantar aponeurosis, long plantar and calcaneonavicular ligament, tendons of posterior tibial, peroneus longus, and long flexors of great and little toes
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
Dorsal: (1) Extensor hallucis brevis; (2) extensor digitorum brevis. Other important dorsal structures: cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments; tendons of long extensors of toes and peronei muscles
Severe	20
Moderately Severe	10
Moderate	10
Slight	0
Note: Minimum rating for through-and-through wounds of the foot—10.
5311 Group XI. Function: Propulsion, plantar flexion of foot (1); stabilization of arch (2, 3); flexion of toes (4, 5); Flexion of knee (6). Posterior and lateral crural muscles, and muscles of the calf: (1) Triceps surae (gastrocnemius and soleus); (2) tibialis posterior; (3) peroneus longus; (4) peroneus brevis; (5) flexor hallucis longus; (6) flexor digitorum longus; (7) popliteus; (8) plantaris
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5312 Group XII. Function: Dorsiflexion (1); extension of toes (2); stabilization of arch (3). Anterior muscles of the leg: (1) Tibialis anterior; (2) extensor digitorum longus; (3) extensor hallucis longus; (4) peroneus tertius
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0

The Pelvic Girdle and Thigh
	Rating
5313 Group XIII. Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee; outward and inward rotation of flexed knee; acting with rectus femoris and sartorius (see XIV, 1, 2) synchronizing simultaneous flexion of hip and knee and extension of hip and knee by belt-over-pulley action at knee joint. Posterior thigh group, Hamstring complex of 2-joint muscles: (1) Biceps femoris; (2) semimembranosus; (3) semitendinosus
Severe	40
Moderately Severe	30
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5314 Group XIV. Function: Extension of knee (2, 3, 4, 5); simultaneous flexion of hip and flexion of knee (1); tension of fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band, acting with XVII (1) in postural support of body (6); acting with hamstrings in synchronizing hip and knee (1, 2). Anterior thigh group: (1) Sartorius; (2) rectus femoris; (3) vastus externus; (4) vastus intermedius; (5) vastus internus; (6) tensor vaginae femoris
Severe	40
Moderately Severe	30
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5315 Group XV. Function: Adduction of hip (1, 2, 3, 4); flexion of hip (1, 2); flexion of knee (4). Mesial thigh group: (1) Adductor longus; (2) adductor brevis; (3) adductor magnus; (4) gracilis
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5316 Group XVI. Function: Flexion of hip (1, 2, 3). Pelvic girdle group 1: (1) Psoas; (2) iliacus; (3) pectineus
Severe	40
Moderately Severe	30
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5317 Group XVII. Function: Extension of hip (1); abduction of thigh; elevation of opposite side of pelvis (2, 3); tension of fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band, acting with XIV (6) in postural support of body steadying pelvis upon head of femur and condyles of femur on tibia (1). Pelvic girdle group 2: (1) Gluteus maximus; (2) gluteus medius; (3) gluteus minimus
Severe	*50
Moderately Severe	40
Moderate	20
Slight	0
5318 Group XVIII. Function: Outward rotation of thigh and stabilization of hip joint. Pelvic girdle group 3: (1) Pyriformis; (2) gemellus (superior or inferior); (3) obturator (external or internal); (4) quadratus femoris
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
* If bilateral, see § 3.350(a)(3) of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation.

The Torso and Neck
	Rating
5319 Group XIX. Function: Support and compression of abdominal wall and lower thorax; flexion and lateral motions of spine; synergists in strong downward movements of arm (1). Muscles of the abdominal wall: (1) Rectus abdominis; (2) external oblique; (3) internal oblique; (4) transversalis; (5) quadratus lumborum
Severe	50
Moderately Severe	30
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5320 Group XX. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. Spinal muscles: Sacrospinalis (erector spinae and its prolongations in thoracic and cervical regions)
Cervical and thoracic region:
Severe	40
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
Lumbar region:
Severe	60
Moderately Severe	40
Moderate	20
Slight	0
5321 Group XXI. Function: Respiration. Muscles of respiration: Thoracic muscle group
Severe or Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5322 Group XXII. Function: Rotary and forward movements of the head; respiration; deglutition. Muscles of the front of the neck: (Lateral, supra-, and infrahyoid group.) (1) Trapezius I (clavicular insertion); (2) sternocleidomastoid; (3) the “hyoid” muscles; (4) sternothyroid; (5) digastric
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0
5323 Group XXIII. Function: Movements of the head; fixation of shoulder movements. Muscles of the side and back of the neck: Suboccipital; lateral vertebral and anterior vertebral muscles
Severe	30
Moderately Severe	20
Moderate	10
Slight	0

Miscellaneous
	Rating
5324 Diaphragm, rupture of, with herniation. Rate under diagnostic code 7346
5325 Muscle injury, facial muscles. Evaluate functional impairment as seventh (facial) cranial nerve neuropathy (diagnostic code 8207), disfiguring scar (diagnostic code 7800), etc. Minimum, if interfering to any extent with mastication—10
5326 Muscle hernia, extensive. Without other injury to the muscle—10
5327 Muscle, neoplasm of, malignant (excluding soft tissue sarcoma)—100
Note: A rating of 100 percent shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgery, radiation treatment, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedures. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residual impairment of function.
5328 Muscle, neoplasm of, benign, postoperative. Rate on impairment of function, i.e., limitation of motion, or scars, diagnostic code 7805, etc
5329 Sarcoma, soft tissue (of muscle, fat, or fibrous connective tissue)—100
Note: A rating of 100 percent shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgery, radiation treatment, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedures. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residual impairment of function.
5330 Rhabdomyolysis, residuals of:
Rate each affected muscle group separately and combine in accordance with § 4.25
Note: Separately evaluate any chronic renal complications within the appropriate body system.
5331 Compartment syndrome:
Rate each affected muscle group separately and combine in accordance with § 4.25

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1155) [62 FR 30239, June 3, 1997, as amemded 85 FR 76464, Nov. 30, 2020]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 44 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1992–2023 · leading case: Lawrence M. Tropf v. R. James Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 317 (Vet. App. 2006).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Lawrence M. Tropf v. R. James Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 317 (Vet. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “In February 2002, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, RO granted the appellant service connection for an SFW of the right upper arm and assigned a 0% disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 , DC 5303 (2006) for MG III.”

C Harles Jones v. Anthony J. Principi, 18 Vet. App. 248 (Vet. App. 2004). · cites it 6× “) at 4, 12-23; see 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 (2003), Diagnostic Code (DC) 5301 (identifying muscles contained in MG I), DC 5321 (identifying muscles contained in MG XXI); http:llwww.”

Johnston v. Brown, 10 Vet. App. 80 (Vet. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “Right Thigh The BVA evaluated the appellant’s shell fragment wound of the right thigh as 10% disabling under 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 , DC 5314 (Muscle Group XIV, anterior thigh group), and § 4.”

Breland v. McDonough, 22 F.4th 1347 (Fed. Cir. 2022). · cites it 2× “Breland’s case or even to this particular diagnostic code, despite the ma- jority’s disclaimer to the contrary.”

Francisco v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 55 (Vet. App. 1994). “Alternatively, a rating increase for muscle injuries under 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 , DC 5303 (1993), to 30%, the “severe” level, requires “moderate or extensive loss of deep fascia or of muscle substance” and “tests of strength .”

Segundo Mariano v. Anthony J. Principi, 17 Vet. App. 305 (Vet. App. 2003). “In a March 1, 1973, decision, the RO confirmed and continued the assigned 10% rating but “modified]” the March 1956 RO decision to reflect that the appellant’s service-connected through-and-through GSW to the left shoulder affected MG IV and was to be rated under 38 C.F.R. §…”

Beyrle v. Brown, 9 Vet. App. 377 (Vet. App. 1996). · cites it 3× “Moderate muscle damage of the deltoid muscle is rated as 20% disabling under 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 , Diagnostic Code (DC) 5303 (1995).”

Charles L. Degmetich, Claimant-Appellant v. Jesse Brown, Sec'y of Vets. Affairs, 104 F.3d 1328 (Fed. Cir. 1997). “, 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 (1995) (slight muscle injury rated at 0%), the Secretary argues that “the YA’s practice of assigning zero-percent ratings is consistent with the general requirement that service connection may be granted only in cases of a currently existing disability.”

Archer v. Principi, 3 Vet. App. 433 (Vet. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “This rating included a 30% evaluation under diagnostic code 5313, 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 , for “GSW, POSTERIOR THIGH, RT.”

Kurt Prokarym v. Robert A. McDonald, 27 Vet. App. 307 (Vet. App. 2015). “114 , DC 7305 (2014), with DC 5284, nor that a "severe” disability of the neck muscles results in the same impairment as a "severe” disability of the muscles supporting the lumbar spine, compare 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 , DC . 5322, with id., DC 5320.”

Evans v. Brown, 9 Vet. App. 273 (Vet. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “The schedule of ratings for muscle injuries as to the forearm and hand, 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 (1995), provides for a 10% rating under DC 5307 where there is moderate loss of “[fjlex-ion of wrist and fingers” due to damage to “[m]uscles arising from internal condyle of humerus”; a 10%…”

Reald v. Shinseki, 651 F.3d 1296 (Fed. Cir. 2011). “§ 1155 as one of a series of ratings categories, is described in 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 as follows: Group XIII. Posterior thigh group.”

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