YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) under diagnostic code 5316, in 38 CFR § 4.73 (muscle injuries), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 40%, 30%, 10% and 0%.
Free · No account needed
Save your Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) guide
Email yourself this Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) guide so the rating criteria, evidence checklist, and preparation tips are easy to find later.
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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)
Injury to the deep muscles that lift the thigh toward the chest — the psoas, iliacus and pectineus.
Under 38 CFR 4.73, DC 5316 rates injury of Muscle Group XVI: pelvic girdle group 1, which the schedule lists as the psoas, the iliacus and the pectineus. Their stated function is flexion of the hip. The code grades the injury as severe (40 percent), moderately severe (30 percent), moderate (10 percent) or slight (0 percent), in a single column, so the evaluation does not change with which side is injured. There is no 20 percent step in this code: the schedule drops from 30 percent for a moderately severe injury straight to 10 percent for a moderate one.
- Diagnostic code
- 5316
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.73
- Schedule levels
- 40%, 30%, 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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) VA rating criteria (DC 5316)
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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) 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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)?
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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) 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 gait testing as core evidence, since how the muscle injury affects walking is directly tied to the severity grading.
- 02
Document muscle wasting (atrophy) if present, since this is direct physical evidence of the injury's severity.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Missing a gait description in the exam findings.
- 02
Underreporting muscle weakness, which can result in a lower rating than the condition's actual severity.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Lack of range-of-motion testing.
- 02
No specialist documentation to confirm the diagnosis and its severity.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This condition can result from a traumatic injury during service or develop gradually from degenerative changes over time.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate
- Veterans service-connected
- ~1,600 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~30%
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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)
Is Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) under VASRD diagnostic code 5316 (Muscle Injuries). Injury to the deep muscles that lift the thigh toward the chest — the psoas, iliacus and pectineus.
What VA disability rating can I get for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)?
Possible VA ratings for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) are 40%, 30%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 40%: Severe injury of Muscle Group XVI; 30%: Moderately severe injury of Muscle Group XVI; 10%: Moderate injury of Muscle Group XVI. The schedule provides no evaluation between 10 and 30 percent for this group.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 1,600 veterans are service-connected for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus). Estimated approval outlook: Moderate.
What evidence helps prove Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus) claim includes: An orthopedic exam documenting the muscle injury; Physical therapy records tracking strength and function; MRI imaging showing the extent of muscle involvement.
Which DBQ is used for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)?
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 XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Muscle Group XVI - Hip Flexors (Psoas, Iliacus, Pectineus): Lack of range-of-motion testing; No specialist documentation to confirm the diagnosis and its severity.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.73, Schedule of ratings, muscle injuries (Diagnostic Code 5316)
- 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.
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline