Muscle Injuries§ 4.73Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5314Group 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

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

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

  1. 40%

    Severe

  2. 30%

    Moderately Severe

  3. 10%

    Moderate

  4. 0%

    Slight

VA Disability Rating: Muscle Group XIV Injuries (Diagnostic Code 5314)

Understanding This Rating

Diagnostic Code 5314 covers injuries to Muscle Group XIV, part of the Muscle Injuries body system rated under § 4.73 of the VA rating schedule.

Muscle Group XIV is the anterior thigh group. These muscles work together to power and stabilize movement of the hip and knee, including:

  • Extension of the knee — straightening the knee (rectus femoris, vastus externus, vastus intermedius, vastus internus)
  • Simultaneous flexion of the hip and flexion of the knee (sartorius)
  • Tension of the fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band, acting with Group XVII in postural support of the body (tensor vaginae femoris)
  • Acting with the hamstrings to synchronize movement of the hip and knee

The specific muscles in this group are:

  1. Sartorius
  2. Rectus femoris
  3. Vastus externus
  4. Vastus intermedius
  5. Vastus internus
  6. Tensor vaginae femoris

Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns a disability percentage for a Group XIV muscle injury based on how severe the disability is. The rating levels are:

RatingSeverity
40%Severe
30%Moderately Severe
10%Moderate
0%Slight

What the VA Looks For

When rating a Group XIV muscle injury, the VA classifies the disability into one of four levels of severity: Slight, Moderate, Moderately Severe, or Severe. The classification determines which percentage applies, ranging from a 0% (Slight) rating up to a 40% (Severe) rating.

Because these muscles are responsible for functions such as extending the knee, coordinating hip and knee movement, and supporting posture, the VA's evaluation focuses on how the injury affects the muscle group's ability to perform these functions.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.73, diagnostic code 5314. 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 5314 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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