YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) under diagnostic code 5306, in 38 CFR § 4.73 (muscle injuries), and the schedule provides five evaluation levels for it: 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)
Injury to the muscles that straighten the elbow — the triceps and the anconeus.
Under 38 CFR 4.73, DC 5306 rates injury of Muscle Group VI: the extensor muscles of the elbow, which the schedule lists as the triceps and the anconeus, and notes that the long head of the triceps is also a stabilizer of the shoulder joint. Their stated function is extension of the elbow. The code grades the injury as slight, moderate, moderately severe or severe, in two columns for the dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremity. Severe is 40 percent major and 30 percent minor. Moderately severe is 30 percent major and 20 percent minor. Moderate is 10 percent in both columns, and slight is 0 percent in both.
- Diagnostic code
- 5306
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.73
- Schedule levels
- 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) VA rating criteria (DC 5306)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim2 tips
- 01
Use consistent strength data collected over time, since a documented pattern is more persuasive than a single measurement.
- 02
Show the impact on lifting and pushing tasks specifically, since these movements depend directly on elbow extensor strength.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Reported symptoms without documented muscle injury to explain them.
- 02
No range-of-motion or strength data included.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Claiming general arm pain instead of documenting this specific muscle group's involvement.
- 02
Failing to show an actual loss of function.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This condition can result from an injury, repetitive use, or a complication following surgery on the elbow or upper arm.
YOUR SERVICE STORY
Military jobs associated with Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)
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THE BROADER PICTURE
Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate if muscle damage documented.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~1,200 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)
Is Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) under VASRD diagnostic code 5306 (Muscle Injuries). Injury to the muscles that straighten the elbow — the triceps and the anconeus.
What VA disability rating can I get for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)?
Possible VA ratings for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) are 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 40%: Severe disability of Muscle Group VI in the dominant (major) upper extremity; 30%: Severe disability of Muscle Group VI in the non-dominant (minor) upper extremity; or moderately severe disability in the dominant (major) upper extremity; 20%: Moderately severe disability of Muscle Group VI in the non-dominant (minor) upper extremity.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 1,200 veterans are service-connected for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors). Estimated approval outlook: Moderate if muscle damage documented.
What evidence helps prove Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors) claim includes: An orthopedic specialist's report documenting the muscle injury; Functional use testing assessing strength and coordination.
Which DBQ is used for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)?
VA's Muscle Injuries Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors): Claiming general arm pain instead of documenting this specific muscle group's involvement; Failing to show an actual loss of function.
What conditions can be secondary to Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors)?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Muscle Group VI (Elbow Extensors), when a medical opinion links them, include: Tendonitis. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.73, Schedule of ratings, muscle injuries (Diagnostic Code 5306)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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