---
title: "DC 5331 - Compartment syndrome:"
diagnostic_code: "5331"
body_system: "Muscle Injuries"
cfr_section: "§ 4.73"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/muscle-injuries/5331-compartment-syndrome"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.73"
updated: "2026-07-21T20:12:09.676421Z"
---

# DC 5331 - Compartment syndrome:

Rated under § 4.73. Body system: Muscle Injuries.

Rate each affected muscle group separately and combine in accordance with § 4.25

## Rating criteria

No itemised criteria have been extracted for this code. Use the official source.

# Compartment Syndrome (VA Diagnostic Code 5331)

## Understanding Your VA Disability Rating for Compartment Syndrome

If you're living with the effects of compartment syndrome, understanding how the VA evaluates this condition can help you know what to expect from the rating process.

### What This Condition Involves

Compartment syndrome is classified by the VA under **Muscle Injuries** and is rated using **Diagnostic Code 5331**, found in the VA's rating schedule at **§ 4.73**.

Because compartment syndrome can affect one or more muscle groups, the VA does not assign a single fixed percentage for the condition as a whole.

### How the VA Rates This Condition

Rather than applying one general rating formula, the VA evaluates compartment syndrome based on the specific muscles involved. According to the rating criteria:

> **Rate each affected muscle group separately and combine in accordance with § 4.25.**

This means:

- **Each affected muscle group is evaluated on its own.** The VA looks at every muscle group impacted by the compartment syndrome individually.
- **The separate evaluations are then combined.** The VA uses the combined ratings method described in **§ 4.25** to arrive at your overall evaluation.

### What the VA Looks For

When rating compartment syndrome, the VA focuses on identifying **which muscle groups are affected** so that each one can be assessed separately before the individual evaluations are combined under § 4.25.

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*This information is based on the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 5331 (§ 4.73). It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.*

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