Muscle Injuries§ 4.73Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 5318Group 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

Rated from 0% to 30% 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. 30%

    Severe

  2. 20%

    Moderately Severe

  3. 10%

    Moderate

  4. 0%

    Slight

VA Disability Rating: Muscle Group XVIII Injuries (Diagnostic Code 5318)

Understanding Muscle Group XVIII Injuries

Muscle Group XVIII is part of the pelvic girdle group and is responsible for outward rotation of the thigh and stabilization of the hip joint. This muscle group includes:

  • The pyriformis
  • The gemellus (superior or inferior)
  • The obturator (external or internal)
  • The quadratus femoris

Injuries affecting these muscles can impact how the hip functions and stabilizes during movement.

This condition is rated under 38 CFR § 4.73, in the Muscle Injuries body system.

Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns a disability rating for Muscle Group XVIII injuries based on the severity of the injury. The available rating levels are:

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

What the VA Looks For

When rating a Muscle Group XVIII injury, the VA evaluates the severity of the muscle injury and its effect on the muscle group's function — the outward rotation of the thigh and stabilization of the hip joint.

The rating assigned reflects where the injury falls along the severity scale, from Slight (0%) through Moderate (10%), Moderately Severe (20%), up to Severe (30%).

This information is provided for general educational purposes and is based on the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.73. Individual ratings depend on the specific facts of each case.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.73, diagnostic code 5318. 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 5318 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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