VASRD 5317 · Musculoskeletal System
Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) VA Disability Rating
Injury to pelvic girdle group 2 — the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, the buttock muscles that extend the hip, abduct the thigh and steady the pelvis when you stand and walk.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 50% | A severe injury to the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles. |
| 40% | A moderately severe injury to the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles. |
| 20% | A moderate injury to the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles — this code steps straight from 40 down to 20. |
| 0% | A slight muscle injury: service-connected, but rated at 0 percent, so it carries no monthly payment on its own. |
How the VA Evaluates Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors)
Diagnostic code 5317 covers Muscle Group XVII, pelvic girdle group 2: (1) gluteus maximus; (2) gluteus medius; (3) gluteus minimus — the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles. The schedule states their function as extension of the hip, abduction of the thigh, elevation of the opposite side of the pelvis, and tension of the fascia lata and iliotibial (Maissiat's) band in postural support of the body, steadying the pelvis upon the head of the femur and the femoral condyles on the tibia. DC 5317 prints one rating column with four steps: severe 50, moderately severe 40, moderate 20, slight 0. Fifty percent is the second-highest evaluation any muscle group in § 4.73 provides, and there is no 30 percent and no 10 percent step. The severe row carries a footnote: "If bilateral, see § 3.350(a)(3) of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation." That routing exists because § 4.64 provides that "Loss of use of both buttocks shall be deemed to exist when there is severe damage to muscle Group XVII, bilateral (diagnostic code number 5317) and additional disability rendering it impossible for the disabled person, without assistance, to rise from a seated position", and Note (1) to § 4.73 likewise refers loss of use of both buttocks under DC 5317 to § 3.350. Special monthly compensation is a separate determination, not an automatic consequence of a 50 percent evaluation. Note (2) to § 4.73 directs that "Ratings of slight, moderate, moderately severe, or severe for diagnostic codes 5301 through 5323 will be determined based upon the criteria contained in § 4.56"; § 4.56(d)(1) through (d)(4) define those four classes in that order, on the type of injury, the treatment history and complaints, and objective findings including strength and endurance compared with the sound side (§ 4.56(d)(3)(iii)). Imaging and gait analysis document the injury and its consequences; they are not the classifiers.
Approval outlook
Moderate
Veterans service-connected
~2,100 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~20%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •MRI imaging of the pelvic girdle muscles.
- •Physical therapy reports tracking treatment and function.
- •An orthopedic evaluation documenting the muscle injury's severity.
Strategy Tips
- •If both buttocks are severely damaged, say so explicitly and describe any inability to rise from a seated position without assistance — § 4.64 and § 3.350(a)(3) treat that as a distinct question from the schedular percentage.
- •Get hip extension and abduction strength and endurance measured against the sound side, which is the comparison § 4.56(d)(3)(iii) names.
- •Know the steps: this code pays 50, 40, 20 and 0, with nothing at 30 or 10, so the argument is about which severity class fits, not about an intermediate percentage.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Missing strength grading of hip extension and abduction compared with the uninjured side, which is the objective finding § 4.56 uses at the higher tiers.
- •No record of the original in-service wound and the treatment it required.
- •A bilateral injury not documented as bilateral, when severe bilateral Group XVII damage opens a separate § 3.350(a)(3) / § 4.64 question about loss of use of both buttocks.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •No functional description connecting the injury to daily limitations.
- •No imaging proof to confirm the muscle involvement.
Onset Patterns
- •Pelvic girdle muscle injuries can result from a specific trauma during service, or develop gradually from degenerative changes over time.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors). Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Hip pain
Postural instability
Gait abnormality
Common questions about Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors)
- Is Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) under VASRD diagnostic code 5317 (Musculoskeletal System). Injury to pelvic girdle group 2 — the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, the buttock muscles that extend the hip, abduct the thigh and steady the pelvis when you stand and walk.
- What VA disability rating can I get for Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors)?
- Possible VA ratings for Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) are 50%, 40%, 20%, 0%. Examples: 50%: A severe injury to the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles.; 40%: A moderately severe injury to the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles.; 20%: A moderate injury to the buttock and hip stabilizer muscles — th…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors)?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) at around 20%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 2,100 veterans are service-connected for Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors). Estimated approval outlook: Moderate.
- What evidence helps prove Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) claim includes: MRI imaging of the pelvic girdle muscles.; Physical therapy reports tracking treatment and function.; An orthopedic evaluation documenting the muscle injury's severity..
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors)?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors): No functional description connecting the injury to daily limitations.; No imaging proof to confirm the muscle involvement..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors)?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Muscle Group XVII - Gluteal Muscles (Hip Extensors) include: Hip pain, Postural instability, Gait abnormality. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.73 — Schedule of ratings — muscle injuries (Diagnostic Code 5317)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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