YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot under diagnostic code 5310, in 38 CFR § 4.73 (muscle injuries), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
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01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot
Injury to the small muscles inside the foot itself — the ones that move the forefoot and toes and give the push-off in walking.
Under 38 CFR 4.73, DC 5310 rates injury of Muscle Group X: the intrinsic muscles of the foot, whose stated function is movement of the forefoot and toes and propulsion thrust in walking. The code is printed as two sub-tables. For the plantar structures — the flexor digitorum brevis, abductor hallucis, abductor digiti minimi, quadratus plantae, lumbricales, flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis and the interossei, together with the plantar aponeurosis, the long plantar and calcaneonavicular ligaments and the tendons crossing the sole — the scale is severe 30 percent, moderately severe 20 percent, moderate 10 percent and slight 0 percent. For the dorsal structures — the extensor hallucis brevis and extensor digitorum brevis, with the cruciate, crural, deltoid and other ligaments and the tendons of the long toe extensors and peronei — the scale is severe 20 percent, moderately severe 10 percent, moderate 10 percent and slight 0 percent, so a dorsal injury does not reach 30. A note closing the code sets a minimum evaluation of 10 percent for through-and-through wounds of the foot.
- Diagnostic code
- 5310
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.73
- Schedule levels
- 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 X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot VA rating criteria (DC 5310)
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.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: Minimum rating for through-and-through wounds of the foot—10.”DC 5310
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot 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 X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot?
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 X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot 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
Mention the impact on walking, running, or standing specifically, since functional impact is what distinguishes the rating tiers beyond a general injury description.
- 02
Include physical therapy reports documenting strength and function over time.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Not describing functional limits clearly during the exam.
- 02
No strength or gait documentation, which is central to how this rating is determined.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Claiming pain without showing an actual loss of motion or strength.
- 02
No detailed exam to establish the injury's severity.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This condition commonly follows sprains, fractures, or tendon injuries affecting the muscles of the foot.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate if physical limitations are documented.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~2,000 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 X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot
Is Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot under VASRD diagnostic code 5310 (Muscle Injuries). Injury to the small muscles inside the foot itself — the ones that move the forefoot and toes and give the push-off in walking.
What VA disability rating can I get for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot?
Possible VA ratings for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot are 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 30%: Severe injury of the plantar muscles and structures of Muscle Group X (the sole of the foot). The dorsal sub-table does not reach 30 percent; 20%: Moderately severe injury of the plantar muscles and structures; or severe injury of the dorsal muscles and structures (the top of the foot); 10%: Moderate injury of the plantar muscles and structures; or moderately severe or moderate injury of the dorsal muscles and structures. Ten percent is also the minimum evaluation for a through-and-through wound of the foot.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 2,000 veterans are service-connected for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate if physical limitations are documented.
What evidence helps prove Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot claim includes: Orthopedic notes and physical therapy records documenting the muscle injury; Imaging showing muscle injury or atrophy.
Which DBQ is used for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot?
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 X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot?
Common pitfalls when filing for Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot: Claiming pain without showing an actual loss of motion or strength; No detailed exam to establish the injury's severity.
What conditions can be secondary to Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Muscle Group X - Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot, when a medical opinion links them, include: Plantar Fasciitis. 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 5310)
- 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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