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VA diagnostic code directory

Browse VA Diagnostic Codes by Body Area

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Muscle Injuries

31 diagnostic codes

DC 5301Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles that help lift your shoulder blade and raise your arm above shoulder level - mainly the trapezius (the bi...

DC 5302Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to a specific group of muscles that help move your shoulder and arm - including your chest muscles (pectoralis), back mu...

DC 5303Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to specific shoulder muscles that help you lift and move your arm to shoulder height - mainly the front part of your che...

DC 5304Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the four small but crucial muscles that keep your shoulder stable and moving properly - the rotator cuff muscles plus...

DC 5305Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles that help you rotate your forearm palm-up (supination) and bend your elbow - specifically the biceps, bra...

DC 5306Group VI. Function: Extension of elbow (long head of triceps is stabilizer of shoulder joint). Extensor muscles of the elbow: (1) Triceps; (2) anconeus

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles that straighten your elbow - mainly the triceps muscle on the back of your upper arm. The VA rates these...

DC 5307Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5307 covers injuries to the muscles that help you bend your wrist and fingers - specifically the muscles that attach to the inside bump of yo...

DC 5308Group 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

This diagnostic code covers muscle injuries that affect your ability to extend (straighten out) your wrist, fingers, and thumb, plus spread your thumb away f...

DC 5309Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5309 covers injuries to the small muscles in your hand and forearm that control gripping and fine finger movements - like the muscles that he...

DC 5310Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5310 covers injuries to Muscle Group X, the small intrinsic muscles of the foot that control toe movement and provide the propulsion thrust u...

DC 5311Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5311 covers injuries to the muscles in your lower leg and calf that control pushing off when you walk, supporting your arch, moving your toes...

DC 5312Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles in the front of your lower leg that help you flex your foot up toward your shin, extend your toes, and ke...

DC 5313Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5313 covers injuries to your hamstring muscles - the three muscles on the back of your thigh that help you bend your knee and extend your hip...

DC 5314Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5314 covers injuries to the quadriceps muscle group - the large muscles on the front of your thigh that straighten your knee and help you wal...

DC 5315Group 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

Diagnostic Code 5315 covers injuries to four specific muscles in your inner thigh that help you bring your legs together (adduction) and bend your hip and kn...

DC 5316Group XVI. Function: Flexion of hip (1, 2, 3). Pelvic girdle group 1: (1) Psoas; (2) iliacus; (3) pectineus

Diagnostic Code 5316 covers muscle injuries that affect your ability to flex (bend) your hip forward, specifically involving three key muscles: the psoas, il...

DC 5317Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the gluteal muscles (your three main butt muscles) that control hip extension, moving your leg away from your body, a...

DC 5318Group 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

This diagnostic code covers injuries to a group of deep hip muscles that help you rotate your leg outward and keep your hip stable - including the pyriformis...

DC 5319Group XIX. Function: Support and compression of abdominal wall and lower thorax; flexion and lateral motions of spine; synergists in strong downward movements of arm (1). Muscles of the abdominal wall: (1) Rectus abdominis; (2) external oblique; (3) internal oblique; (4) transversalis; (5) quadratus lumborum

Diagnostic Code 5319 covers injuries to the muscles of your abdominal wall - essentially the muscle groups that support your core, help you bend and twist yo...

DC 5320Group XX. Function: Postural support of body; extension and lateral movements of spine. Spinal muscles: Sacrospinalis (erector spinae and its prolongations in thoracic and cervical regions)

This code covers injuries to the sacrospinalis muscles - the deep back muscles that run along your spine from your tailbone up through your neck and help you...

DC 5321Group XXI. Function: Respiration. Muscles of respiration: Thoracic muscle group

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles that help you breathe, specifically the muscles in your chest wall and ribcage area. The VA rates these i...

DC 5322Group XXII. Function: Rotary and forward movements of the head; respiration; deglutition. Muscles of the front of the neck: (Lateral, supra-, and infrahyoid group.) (1) Trapezius I (clavicular insertion); (2) sternocleidomastoid; (3) the "hyoid" muscles; (4) sternothyroid; (5) digastric

This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles in the front of your neck that control head movement, breathing, and swallowing. These include major musc...

DC 5323Group 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

This diagnostic code covers muscle injuries affecting your neck and shoulder movement - specifically the deep muscles at the base of your skull and along you...

DC 5324Diaphragm, rupture of, with herniation

A ruptured diaphragm with herniation means the muscle wall separating your chest and abdomen has torn, allowing organs to push through into your chest cavity...

DC 5325Muscle injury, facial muscles

Diagnostic Code 5325 covers injuries to the facial muscles. The VA does not assign a multi-tier rating under DC 5325 itself, instead it evaluates your facial...

DC 5326Muscle hernia, extensive. Without other injury to the muscle—10

A muscle hernia happens when muscle tissue pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding connective tissue, creating a visible bulge or lump. The VA rates ex...

DC 5327Muscle, neoplasm of, malignant (excluding soft tissue sarcoma)—100

This diagnostic code covers malignant muscle tumors (cancer that started in muscle tissue), but it excludes soft tissue sarcomas which have their own rating...

DC 5328Muscle, neoplasm of, benign, postoperative

Diagnostic Code 5328 covers benign muscle tumors that have been surgically removed. The VA doesn't assign a specific disability rating for this code itself -...

DC 5329Sarcoma, soft tissue (of muscle, fat, or fibrous connective tissue)—100

Sarcoma is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that grows in soft tissues like muscle, fat, or connective tissue (the fibrous material that holds your body...

DC 5330Rhabdomyolysis, residuals of

Rhabdomyolysis is rapid muscle-tissue breakdown that releases proteins into the bloodstream and can damage the kidneys. Diagnostic Code 5330 has no rating pe...

DC 5331Compartment syndrome

Compartment syndrome happens when pressure builds up inside muscle compartments (sections of muscles enclosed by tough tissue), cutting off blood flow and po...

Browse every diagnostic code

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Musculoskeletal System (162 codes)
Muscle Injuries (31 codes)
Eye (45 codes)
Ear (12 codes)
Smell and Taste (2 codes)
Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional Deficiencies (31 codes)
Respiratory System (61 codes)
Cardiovascular System (33 codes)
Digestive System (51 codes)
Genitourinary System (40 codes)
Gynecological Conditions (20 codes)
Hemic and Lymphatic Systems (21 codes)
Skin (30 codes)
Endocrine System (19 codes)
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders (119 codes)
Mental Disorders (33 codes)
Dental and Oral Conditions (15 codes)

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with your VSO representative or a qualified veterans benefits attorney for guidance on your specific claim.