---
title: "DC 5323 - Group XXIII. Function: Movements of the head; fixation of shoulder movements. Muscles of the side and back of the neck: Suboccipital; lateral vertebral and anterior vertebral muscles"
diagnostic_code: "5323"
body_system: "Muscle Injuries"
cfr_section: "§ 4.73"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/muscle-injuries/5323-group-xxiii-function-movements-of-the-head-fixation-of"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.73"
updated: "2026-07-21T17:58:02.712274Z"
---

# DC 5323 - Group XXIII. Function: Movements of the head; fixation of shoulder movements. Muscles of the side and back of the neck: Suboccipital; lateral vertebral and anterior vertebral muscles

Rated under § 4.73. Body system: Muscle Injuries.

## Rating criteria

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

# VA Disability Rating: Muscle Group XXIII (Diagnostic Code 5323)

## Neck Muscle Injuries Affecting Head Movement and Shoulder Fixation

Under **38 CFR § 4.73**, Diagnostic Code **5323** covers injuries to **Muscle Group XXIII**, part of the VA's rating schedule for **Muscle Injuries**.

---

## What This Condition Involves

Muscle Group XXIII includes the **muscles of the side and back of the neck**: the suboccipital, lateral vertebral, and anterior vertebral muscles.

According to the rating schedule, the function of this muscle group is:

- **Movements of the head**
- **Fixation of shoulder movements**

An injury to these muscles is evaluated based on how severely the injury affects this function.

---

## Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns one of the following disability ratings for a Muscle Group XXIII injury, based on the level of severity:

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

---

## What the VA Looks At

When rating a Muscle Group XXIII injury under Diagnostic Code 5323, the VA classifies the injury according to its **severity level** — Slight, Moderate, Moderately Severe, or Severe — as listed in the rating schedule above. The severity classification determines which percentage is assigned.

---

*This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.73 for Diagnostic Code 5323. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.*

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