VA Diagnostic Code 5306Group VI. Function: Extension of elbow (long head of triceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint). Extensor muscles of the elbow: (1) Triceps; (2) anconeus.
Rated from 0% to 40% under § 4.73. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 40%30% non-dominant
Severe
- 30%20% non-dominant
Moderately Severe
- 10%10% non-dominant
Moderate
- 0%0% non-dominant
Slight
Elbow Extension Muscle Injuries (Diagnostic Code 5306)
Understanding Muscle Group VI Injuries
Under VA Diagnostic Code 5306 (§ 4.73, Muscle Injuries), the VA evaluates injuries affecting Muscle Group VI — the muscles responsible for extension of the elbow.
This muscle group includes the triceps and the anconeus. The long head of the triceps also serves as a stabilizer of the shoulder joint.
When an injury affects these muscles, it can impact your ability to extend (straighten) your elbow, which is central to many everyday movements and tasks.
Available Rating Levels
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the severity of the muscle injury. Ratings differ depending on whether the injury affects your dominant extremity or your non-dominant (minor) extremity.
| Criteria | Dominant Extremity | Non-Dominant (Minor) Extremity |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 40% | 30% |
| Moderately Severe | 30% | 20% |
| Moderate | 10% | 10% |
| Slight | 0% | 0% |
What the VA Looks For
When rating an injury under Diagnostic Code 5306, the VA classifies the severity of the muscle injury into one of four levels:
- Slight — rated at 0%
- Moderate — rated at 10%
- Moderately Severe — rated at 30% (dominant) or 20% (non-dominant)
- Severe — rated at 40% (dominant) or 30% (non-dominant)
The VA also considers whether the affected arm is your dominant or non-dominant extremity, as this affects the assigned rating percentage at the more severe levels.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.73, diagnostic code 5306. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
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.
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.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 5306 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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