Muscle Injuries§ 4.73Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5305Group 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

Rated from 0% to 40% under § 4.73. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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Not the right code?

The ladder

What each rating requires

The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.

  1. 40%30% non-dominant

    Severe

  2. 30%20% non-dominant

    Moderately Severe

  3. 10%10% non-dominant

    Moderate

  4. 0%0% non-dominant

    Slight

VA Disability Rating: Muscle Group V Injuries (Diagnostic Code 5305)

Understanding Muscle Group V Injuries

Muscle Group V covers the muscles responsible for key movements of the arm at the elbow and shoulder. Under 38 CFR § 4.73, Diagnostic Code 5305 addresses injuries affecting this muscle group.

Function of Muscle Group V:

  • Elbow supination (the long head of the biceps also acts as a stabilizer of the shoulder joint)
  • Flexion of the elbowThe flexor muscles of the elbow in this group are:
  1. Biceps
  2. Brachialis
  3. Brachioradialis

Because these muscles control bending of the elbow and rotation of the forearm, an injury here can affect a person's ability to lift, carry, and rotate the arm.

Available Rating Levels

The VA rates Muscle Group V injuries based on the severity of the injury. Ratings differ depending on whether the injury affects your dominant arm or your non-dominant arm.

CriteriaDominant ExtremityNon-Dominant Extremity
Severe40%30%
Moderately Severe30%20%
Moderate10%10%
Slight0%0%

What the VA Looks For

When rating an injury under Diagnostic Code 5305, the VA classifies the muscle injury by its severity, using the categories:

  • Slight
  • Moderate
  • Moderately Severe
  • Severe

The VA also considers whether the affected arm is your dominant or non-dominant extremity, since this determines the applicable rating percentage for each severity level.

This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.73, Diagnostic Code 5305. Individual ratings depend on the specific facts of your case as evaluated by the VA.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.73, diagnostic code 5305. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. Find your level in the stack

    Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.

  2. Name the gap

    Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 5305 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Muscle Injuries codes may cover your secondary conditions.

Find out which rating your evidence supports.

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