§ 4.73. Schedule of ratings---muscle injuries.

1,199 words·~5 min read·/us/cfr/t38/s§ 4.73·

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Note (1): When evaluating any claim involving muscle injuries resulting in loss of use of any extremity or loss of use of both buttocks (diagnostic code 5317, Muscle Group XVII), refer to § 3.350 of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation. Note (2): Ratings of slight, moderate, moderately severe, or severe for diagnostic codes 5301 through 5323 will be determined based upon the criteria contained in § 4.56. ::: {.table_head} The Shoulder Girdle and Arm ::: Rating Dominant Nondominant 5301 Group I. Function: Upward rotation of scapula; elevation of arm above shoulder level. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle:

(1)Trapezius;

(2)levator scapulae;

(3)serratus magnus Severe 40 30 Moderately Severe 30 20 Moderate 10 10 Slight 0 0 5302 Group II. Function: Depression of arm from vertical overhead to hanging at side (1, 2); downward rotation of scapula (3, 4); 1 and 2 act with Group III in forward and backward swing of arm. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle:

(1)Pectoralis major II (costosternal);

(2)latissimus dorsi and teres major (teres major, although technically an intrinsic muscle, is included with latissimus dorsi);

(3)pectoralis minor;

(4)rhomboid Severe 40 30 Moderately Severe 30 20 Moderate 20 20 Slight 0 0 5303 Group III. Function: Elevation and abduction of arm to level of shoulder; act with 1 and 2 of Group II in forward and backward swing of arm. Intrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle:

(1)Pectoralis major I (clavicular);

(2)deltoid Severe 40 30 Moderately Severe 30 20 Moderate 20 20 Slight 0 0 5304 Group IV. Function: Stabilization of shoulder against injury in strong movements, holding head of humerus in socket; abduction; outward rotation and inward rotation of arm. Intrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle:

(1)Supraspinatus;

(2)infraspinatus and teres minor;

(3)subscapularis;

(4)coracobrachialis Severe 30 20 Moderately Severe 20 20 Moderate 10 10 Slight 0 0 5305 Group V. Function: Elbow supination

(1)(long head of biceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint); flexion of elbow (1, 2, 3). Flexor muscles of elbow:

(1)Biceps;

(2)brachialis;

(3)brachioradialis Severe 40 30 Moderately Severe 30 20 Moderate 10 10 Slight 0 0 5306 Group VI. Function: Extension of elbow (long head of triceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint). Extensor muscles of the elbow:

(1)Triceps;

(2)anconeus. Severe 40 30 Moderately Severe 30 20 Moderate 10 10 Slight 0 0 ::: {.table_head} The Forearm and Hand ::: Rating Dominant Nondominant 5307 Group VII. Function: Flexion of wrist and fingers. Muscles arising from internal condyle of humerus: Flexors of the carpus and long flexors of fingers and thumb; pronator Severe 40 30 Moderately Severe 30 20 Moderate 10 10 Slight 0 0 5308 Group VIII. Function: Extension of wrist, fingers, and thumb; abduction of thumb. Muscles arising mainly from external condyle of humerus: Extensors of carpus, fingers, and thumb; supinator Severe 30 20 Moderately Severe 20 20 Moderate 10 10 Slight 0 0 5309 Group IX. Function: The forearm muscles act in strong grasping movements and are supplemented by the intrinsic muscles in delicate manipulative movements. Intrinsic muscles of hand: Thenar eminence; short flexor, opponens, abductor and adductor of thumb; hypothenar eminence; short flexor, opponens and abductor of little finger; 4 lumbricales; 4 dorsal and 3 palmar interossei Note: The hand is so compact a structure that isolated muscle injuries are rare, being nearly always complicated with injuries of bones, joints, tendons, etc. Rate on limitation of motion, minimum 10 percent. ::: {.table_head} The Foot and Leg ::: Rating 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 Severe 30 Moderately Severe 20 Moderate 10 Slight 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 Severe 20 Moderately Severe 10 Moderate 10 Slight 0 Note: Minimum rating for through-and-through wounds of the foot---10. 5311 Group XI. Function: Propulsion, plantar flexion of foot (1); stabilization of arch (2, 3); flexion of toes (4, 5); Flexion of knee (6). Posterior and lateral crural muscles, and muscles of the calf:

(1)Triceps surae (gastrocnemius and soleus);

(2)tibialis posterior;

(3)peroneus longus;

(4)peroneus brevis;

(5)flexor hallucis longus;

(6)flexor digitorum longus;

(7)popliteus;

(8)plantaris Severe 30 Moderately Severe 20 Moderate 10 Slight 0 5312 Group XII. Function: Dorsiflexion (1); extension of toes (2); stabilization of arch (3). Anterior muscles of the leg:

(1)Tibialis anterior;

(2)extensor digitorum longus;

(3)extensor hallucis longus;

(4)peroneus tertius Severe 30 Moderately Severe 20 Moderate 10 Slight 0 ::: {.table_head} The Pelvic Girdle and Thigh ::: Rating 5313 Group XIII. Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee; outward and inward rotation of flexed knee; acting with rectus femoris and sartorius (see XIV, 1, 2) synchronizing simultaneous flexion of hip and knee and extension of hip and knee by belt-over-pulley action at knee joint. Posterior thigh group, Hamstring complex of 2-joint muscles:

(1)Biceps femoris;

(2)semimembranosus;

(3)semitendinosus Severe 40 Moderately Severe 30 Moderate 10 Slight 0 5314 Group 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 Severe 40 Moderately Severe 30 Moderate 10 Slight 0 5315 Group XV. Function: Adduction of hip (1, 2, 3, 4); flexion of hip (1, 2); flexion of knee (4). Mesial thigh group:

(1)Adductor longus;

(2)adductor brevis;

(3)adductor magnus;

(4)gracilis Severe 30 Moderately Severe 20 Moderate 10 Slight 0 5316 Group XVI. Function: Flexion of hip (1, 2, 3). Pelvic girdle group 1:

(1)Psoas;

(2)iliacus;

(3)pectineus Severe 40 Moderately Severe 30 Moderate 10 Slight 0 5317 Group XVII. Function: Extension of hip (1); abduction of thigh; elevation of opposite side of pelvis (2, 3); tension of fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band, acting with XIV

(6)in postural support of body steadying pelvis upon head of femur and condyles of femur on tibia (1). Pelvic girdle group 2:

(1)Gluteus maximus;

(2)gluteus medius;

(3)gluteus minimus Severe \*50 Moderately Severe 40 Moderate 20 Slight 0 5318 Group 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 Severe 30 Moderately Severe 20 Moderate 10 Slight 0 ::: {.table_foot} - If bilateral, see § 3.350(a)(3) of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation. ``` ```