YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck under diagnostic code 5322, in 38 CFR § 4.73 (muscle injuries), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 30%, 20%, 10% and 0%.
Free · No account needed
Save your Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck guide
Email yourself this Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck 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 XXII - Muscles of front of neck
Injury to the muscles at the front of the neck — the sternocleidomastoid, the hyoid group and their neighbours — which turn the head forward and to the side and help with breathing and swallowing.
Under 38 CFR 4.73, DC 5322 rates injury of Muscle Group XXII: the muscles of the front of the neck — the lateral, suprahyoid and infrahyoid group, which the schedule lists as trapezius I at its clavicular insertion, the sternocleidomastoid, the hyoid muscles, the sternothyroid and the digastric. Their stated functions are rotary and forward movements of the head, respiration and deglutition (swallowing). The code grades the injury as severe (30 percent), moderately severe (20 percent), moderate (10 percent) or slight (0 percent), in a single column, so the evaluation does not change with which side of the neck is injured. Swallowing and breathing difficulty are part of what this group's injury produces, and both belong in the record even though the percentages turn on the overall severity of the muscle injury rather than on any single symptom.
- Diagnostic code
- 5322
- 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 XXII - Muscles of front of neck VA rating criteria (DC 5322)
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 XXII - Muscles of front of neck 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 XXII - Muscles of front of neck?
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 XXII - Muscles of front of neck 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
Submit daily mobility logs tracking how neck stiffness affects your routine, since a documented pattern over time supports the clinical measurements.
- 02
Use goniometer measurements specifically for neck range of motion, since this precise testing is what the rating schedule depends on.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
No range-of-motion data collected during the exam.
- 02
No diagnosis of an associated strain to explain the muscle involvement.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Only claiming generic neck pain without connecting it to this specific muscle group.
- 02
Lack of range-of-motion documentation, which is central to how this rating is determined.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Neck muscle injuries under this code can result from a sudden trauma or develop gradually from repetitive strain.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate
- Veterans service-connected
- ~2,400 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.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck
Is Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck under VASRD diagnostic code 5322 (Muscle Injuries). Injury to the muscles at the front of the neck — the sternocleidomastoid, the hyoid group and their neighbours — which turn the head forward and to the side and help with breathing and swallowing.
What VA disability rating can I get for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck?
Possible VA ratings for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck are 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 30%: Severe injury of Muscle Group XXII; 20%: Moderately severe injury of Muscle Group XXII; 10%: Moderate injury of Muscle Group XXII.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck at around 20%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 2,400 veterans are service-connected for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate.
What evidence helps prove Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck claim includes: A neck range-of-motion chart from a formal exam; MRI or CT imaging of the cervical spine region; Orthopedic or physical therapy evaluations documenting the muscle involvement.
Which DBQ is used for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck?
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 XXII - Muscles of front of neck?
Common pitfalls when filing for Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck: Only claiming generic neck pain without connecting it to this specific muscle group; Lack of range-of-motion documentation, which is central to how this rating is determined.
What conditions can be secondary to Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Muscle Group XXII - Muscles of front of neck, when a medical opinion links them, include: Cervical strain. 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 5322)
- 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