What rates 40% for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320?

Under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320 (DC 5320), a 40% rating for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) requires: Tests of strength and endurance compared with sound side demonstrate positive evidence of impairment

What happens during a C&P exam for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

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Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles)?

Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) (DC 5320) is rated at 60%, 40%, 20%, 0% under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320. Tests of strength, endurance, or coordinated movements compared with the corresponding muscles of the uninjured side indicate severe impairment of function

Q: What rates 60% for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320?

Under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320 (DC 5320), a 60% rating for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) requires: Tests of strength, endurance, or coordinated movements compared with the corresponding muscles of the uninjured side indicate severe impairment of function

Q: What rates 20% for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320?

Under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320 (DC 5320), a 20% rating for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) requires: Some loss of deep fascia or muscle substance or impairment of muscle tonus and loss of power or lowered threshold of fatigue when compared to the sound side

Q: What rates 0% for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320?

Under 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320 (DC 5320), a 0% rating for Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) requires: Minimal scar. No evidence of fascial defect, atrophy, or impaired tonus. No impairment of function or metallic fragments retained in muscle tissue

Q: What evidence do I need for a Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) claim includes: 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. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 532038 C.F.R. § 4.73

Diagnostic Code

DC 5320

38 C.F.R. § 4.73

Rating Range

0–60%

4 severity tiers

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.56

Muscle Injury Group XX (Spinal Muscles) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5320 of 38 CFR § 4.73, DC 5320 across 4 severity tiers (60% / 40% / 20% / 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.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Injury to spinal muscles (sacrospinalis, erector spinae, paraspinals) controlling trunk extension, lateral bending, and postural support

Rating Criteria

60%

Tests of strength, endurance, or coordinated movements compared with the corresponding muscles of the uninjured side indicate severe impairment of function

40%

Tests of strength and endurance compared with sound side demonstrate positive evidence of impairment

20%

Some loss of deep fascia or muscle substance or impairment of muscle tonus and loss of power or lowered threshold of fatigue when compared to the sound side

Minimal scar. No evidence of fascial defect, atrophy, or impaired tonus. No impairment of function or metallic fragments retained in muscle tissue

Key Evidence

—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

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.56 (Evaluation of muscle disabilities). Source verified 2026-06-04 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.

View § 4.56 on eCFR →Cornell Law mirror →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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