Muscle Injuries§ 4.73Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5312Group 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

Rated from 0% to 30% under § 4.73. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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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. 30%

    Severe

  2. 20%

    Moderately Severe

  3. 10%

    Moderate

  4. 0%

    Slight

Muscle Injuries — Group XII (Anterior Muscles of the Leg)

Diagnostic Code 5312 · 38 CFR § 4.73 · Body System: Muscle Injuries

Understanding Group XII Muscle Injuries

Group XII covers the anterior muscles of the leg. These muscles are responsible for three main functions:

  1. Dorsiflexion — lifting the foot upward at the ankle
  2. Extension of the toes
  3. Stabilization of the arch of the foot

The muscles in this group include:

  • Tibialis anterior
  • Extensor digitorum longus
  • Extensor hallucis longus
  • Peroneus tertius

When these muscles are injured, the movements and stability they support may be affected.

Available Rating Levels

The VA rates injuries to this muscle group based on the severity of the injury, using the following levels:

RatingSeverity
30%Severe
20%Moderately Severe
10%Moderate
0%Slight

What the VA Looks For

When rating a Group XII muscle injury under Diagnostic Code 5312, the VA assigns a rating based on the overall severity of the muscle disability — classified as Slight, Moderate, Moderately Severe, or Severe. The rating level reflects how significantly the injury affects the muscle group's functions, which include dorsiflexion, extension of the toes, and stabilization of the arch.

This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 5312. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any specific rating or outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.73, diagnostic code 5312. 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 5312 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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