---
title: "DC 5310 - Group X. Function: Movements of forefoot and toes; propulsion thrust in walking. Intrinsic muscles of the foot: Plantar: (1) Flexor digitorum brevis; (2) abductor hallucis; (3) abductor digiti minimi; (4) quadratus plantae; (5) lumbricales; (6) flexor hallucis brevis; (7) adductor hallucis; (8) flexor digiti minimi brevis; (9) dorsal and plantar interossei. Other important plantar structures: Plantar aponeurosis, long plantar and calcaneonavicular ligament, tendons of posterior tibial, peroneus longus, and long flexors of great and little toes"
diagnostic_code: "5310"
body_system: "Muscle Injuries"
cfr_section: "§ 4.73"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/muscle-injuries/5310-group-x-function-movements-of-forefoot-and-toes-propulsion"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.73"
updated: "2026-07-21T20:09:11.074463Z"
---

# DC 5310 - Group X. Function: Movements of forefoot and toes; propulsion thrust in walking. Intrinsic muscles of the foot: Plantar: (1) Flexor digitorum brevis; (2) abductor hallucis; (3) abductor digiti minimi; (4) quadratus plantae; (5) lumbricales; (6) flexor hallucis brevis; (7) adductor hallucis; (8) flexor digiti minimi brevis; (9) dorsal and plantar interossei. Other important plantar structures: Plantar aponeurosis, long plantar and calcaneonavicular ligament, tendons of posterior tibial, peroneus longus, and long flexors of great and little toes

Rated under § 4.73. Body system: Muscle Injuries.

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 30% | Severe |
| 20% | Moderately Severe |
| 10% | Moderate |
| 0% | Slight |
| 20% | Dorsal: (1) Extensor hallucis brevis; (2) extensor digitorum brevis. Other important dorsal structures: cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments; tendons of long extensors of toes and peronei muscles: Severe |
| 10% | Dorsal: (1) Extensor hallucis brevis; (2) extensor digitorum brevis. Other important dorsal structures: cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments; tendons of long extensors of toes and peronei muscles: Moderately Severe |
| 10% | Dorsal: (1) Extensor hallucis brevis; (2) extensor digitorum brevis. Other important dorsal structures: cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments; tendons of long extensors of toes and peronei muscles: Moderate |
| 0% | Dorsal: (1) Extensor hallucis brevis; (2) extensor digitorum brevis. Other important dorsal structures: cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments; tendons of long extensors of toes and peronei muscles: Slight |

## Notes

- Note: Minimum rating for through-and-through wounds of the footâ10.

# Foot Muscle Injuries — Group X (Diagnostic Code 5310)

## Understanding the Condition

Diagnostic Code **5310** falls under **Muscle Injuries** and is governed by **§ 4.73** of the VA rating schedule. It addresses injuries to **Muscle Group X**, the muscles responsible for **movements of the forefoot and toes** and for providing **propulsion thrust in walking**.

Group X covers the intrinsic muscles of the foot, organized into two main regions:

**Plantar (sole of the foot) muscles:**
1. Flexor digitorum brevis
2. Abductor hallucis
3. Abductor digiti minimi
4. Quadratus plantae
5. Lumbricales
6. Flexor hallucis brevis
7. Adductor hallucis
8. Flexor digiti minimi brevis
9. Dorsal and plantar interossei

Other important plantar structures include the plantar aponeurosis, the long plantar and calcaneonavicular ligament, and the tendons of the posterior tibial, peroneus longus, and long flexors of the great and little toes.

**Dorsal (top of the foot) muscles:**
1. Extensor hallucis brevis
2. Extensor digitorum brevis

Other important dorsal structures include the cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments, along with the tendons of the long extensors of the toes and the peronei muscles.

## Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns a rating based on the severity of the muscle injury. The rating levels differ depending on whether the injury affects the **plantar** or **dorsal** structures.

### Plantar Muscle Injuries

| Rating | Severity |
|--------|----------|
| 30% | Severe |
| 20% | Moderately Severe |
| 10% | Moderate |
| 0% | Slight |

### Dorsal Muscle Injuries

*(Extensor hallucis brevis; extensor digitorum brevis; and other dorsal structures including the cruciate, crural, deltoid, and other ligaments, and tendons of the long extensors of the toes and peronei muscles)*

| Rating | Severity |
|--------|----------|
| 20% | Severe |
| 10% | Moderately Severe |
| 10% | Moderate |
| 0% | Slight |

## What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a Group X foot muscle injury, the VA classifies the disability by severity — **Slight, Moderate, Moderately Severe, or Severe** — and considers whether the injury involves the plantar or dorsal muscle structures, since each region has its own rating scale.

**Please note:** The minimum rating for **through-and-through wounds of the foot** is **10%**.

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.73