EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Groin Strain (Chronic)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.73 (Muscle injuries) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Groin Strain (Chronic) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5315 of 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5315 across 4 severity tiers (30% / 20% / 10% / 0%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Chronic strain or recurrent injury of the adductor muscles in the groin causing inner thigh pain with lateral movements and running
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
30%
Severe muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(4)): through-and-through or deep penetrating wound by small high-velocity missile or large low-velocity missile, with extensive debridement, prolonged infection, or sloughing of soft parts. Objective: ragged / depressed / adherent scars; loss of deep fascia, muscle substance, normal firm resistance; palpable evidence of weakened contraction. For adductor injury specifically, this tier applies to complete adductor avulsion with surgical repair or chronic refractory adductor tendinopathy with documented strength deficit and functional limitation.
20%
Moderately Severe muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(3)): through-and-through or deep penetrating wound with debridement, prolonged infection, or sloughing of soft parts, with intermuscular scarring. Objective: moderate loss of deep fascia / muscle substance / firm resistance; strength testing demonstrates positive impairment. For adductor strain: documented partial tear with hematoma, brief immobilization, and lowered threshold of fatigue.
10%
Moderate muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(2)): through-and-through or deep penetrating short-track wound, without high-velocity explosive effect or prolonged infection. Objective: small/linear scars; some loss of deep fascia / muscle substance; impaired tonus; lowered fatigue threshold. For adductor strain: documented strain with imaging confirmation and residual mild functional limitation.
0%
Slight muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(1)): simple wound or strain without debridement, infection, or residual functional impairment; minimal scar; no fascial defect, atrophy, or impaired tonus.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.73 (Muscle injuries). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026