38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.71a

Muscle Group XIII — VA Diagnostic Code 5313

Musculoskeletal

Diagnostic code

5313

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38 CFR § 4.73 lists Diagnostic Code 5313 in the table captioned “The Pelvic Girdle and Thigh.” The title cell is “5313 Group XIII. Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee; outward and inward rotation of flexed knee; acting with rectus femoris and sartorius (see XIV, 1, 2) synchronizing simultaneous flexion of hip and knee and extension of hip and knee by belt-over-pulley action at knee joint. Posterior thigh group, Hamstring complex of 2-joint muscles: (1) Biceps femoris; (2) semimembranosus; (3) semitendinosus”. The rating cell on that title is empty. The column header for this table is “Rating.” It is not split into Dominant and Nondominant. Severe is 40. Moderately Severe is 30. Moderate is 10. Slight is 0. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Group XIII Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee.” The catalog row cites § 4.71a. The 2026-10-01 text places this code in § 4.73.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.73 source note prints 62 FR 30239, June 3, 1997, as amemded 85 FR 76464, Nov. 30, 2020. The word “amemded” is the spelling in that source note. The § 4.56 source note prints 62 FR 30238, June 3, 1997. The § 4.55 source note prints 62 FR 30237, June 3, 1997.

The rating criteria at each level

5313 Group XIII — The Pelvic Girdle and Thigh

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). Severe

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Moderately Severe

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Moderate

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Slight

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
40	Severe
30	Moderately Severe
10	Moderate
0	Slight

Note (2) of § 4.73: 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.

The rating table capitalizes “Moderately Severe.” Note (2) says “moderately severe.”

Section 4.56(c) says the cardinal signs and symptoms of muscle disability are loss of power, weakness, lowered threshold of fatigue, fatigue-pain, impairment of coordination and uncertainty of movement.

Section 4.56(d) says that under diagnostic codes 5301 through 5323, disabilities resulting from muscle injuries shall be classified as slight, moderate, moderately severe or severe as follows. There is no comma before “or severe.”

38 CFR § 4.55(b) says the skeletal muscles are divided into 23 muscle groups in 5 anatomical regions, and that 6 muscle groups for the pelvic girdle and thigh are diagnostic codes 5313 through 5318. Paragraph (c) says there will be no rating assigned for muscle groups which act upon an ankylosed joint, with stated exceptions. Paragraph (c)(1) says: “In the case of an ankylosed knee, if muscle group XIII is disabled, it will be rated, but at the next lower level than that which would otherwise be assigned.” Paragraph (a) says a muscle injury rating will not be combined with a peripheral nerve paralysis rating of the same body part, unless the injuries affect entirely different functions.

38 CFR § 4.56(a) says an open comminuted fracture with muscle or tendon damage will be rated as a severe injury of the muscle group involved unless, for locations such as in the wrist or over the tibia, evidence establishes that the muscle damage is minimal. Paragraph (b) says a through-and-through injury with muscle damage shall be evaluated as no less than a moderate injury for each group of muscles damaged. Paragraph (b) hyphenates “through-and-through.” Paragraph (d)(2) says “Through and through” without those hyphens. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.

Note (1) of § 4.73 names loss of use of any extremity or loss of use of both buttocks and points to § 3.350, with diagnostic code 5317, Muscle Group XVII, in parentheses. The note does not name DC 5313. DC 5314 is the next code, Group XIV, extension of the knee, also 40, 30, 10, and 0. DC 5312 is Group XII, in the foot-and-leg table. Its severe line is 30, not 40. DC 5319 is Group XIX. Section 4.55(b) places that code in the torso and neck, diagnostic codes 5319 through 5323, which is a different region from 5313 through 5318.

DC 5313 prints a 0 percent line for Slight. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not name Muscle Group XIII.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.73, Diagnostic Code 5313, and 38 CFR § 4.55, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

One rating column

The Pelvic Girdle and Thigh table headers are a blank criteria column and “Rating.” Severe is 40, Moderately Severe is 30, Moderate is 10, and Slight is 0. The shoulder-girdle tables earlier in § 4.73 use Dominant and Nondominant. Group XIII does not.

The ankylosed-knee exception

Section 4.55(c)(1) names muscle group XIII. If the knee is ankylosed and Group XIII is disabled, it will be rated, but at the next lower level than that which would otherwise be assigned.

Appendix B shortens the function

Appendix B says “Group XIII Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee.” The § 4.73 cell also names rotation of the flexed knee, the belt-over-pulley action, and the hamstring complex: biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus.

Evidence that speaks to each level

40, 30, 10, or 0

What the rater needs to see. The § 4.56 classification for severe, moderately severe, moderate, or slight. The cardinal signs and symptoms in § 4.56(c) are part of that classification.

Where that usually lives. The muscle examination and the service-treatment description of the wound, when the record has one.

Ankylosed knee

What the rater needs to see. Section 4.55(c)(1) rates a disabled Group XIII with an ankylosed knee at the next lower level than the level otherwise assigned.

Where that usually lives. The same examination, if the knee is ankylosed.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
40, 30, 10, or 0	The § 4.56 classification for severe, moderately severe, moderate, or slight. The cardinal signs and symptoms in § 4.56(c) are part of that classification.	The muscle examination and the service-treatment description of the wound, when the record has one.
Ankylosed knee	Section 4.55(c)(1) rates a disabled Group XIII with an ankylosed knee at the next lower level than the level otherwise assigned.	The same examination, if the knee is ankylosed.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Muscle Injuries” and “Hip and Thigh” under Musculoskeletal. The files are Muscle Injuries and Hip and Thigh.

The exam form

DC 5313 prints 40, 30, 10, and 0. Section 4.56 is the classification for those four words. This page does not say either form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Group XIV is the next pelvic-girdle code.

DC 5314 prints the same 40, 30, 10, and 0. Its function cell names extension of the knee and the anterior thigh group. Section 4.55(b) places diagnostic codes 5313 through 5318 in the pelvic girdle and thigh.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not name Muscle Group XIII. This page does not add DC 5313 to a presumptive row.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

How does VA rate Muscle Group XIII under DC 5313?

Under 38 CFR § 4.73, Group XIII is 40 percent for severe, 30 percent for moderately severe, 10 percent for moderate, and 0 percent for slight. Note (2) points those words to the criteria in § 4.56. The muscles named in the title cell are biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Which muscle groups are in the pelvic girdle and thigh?

Section 4.55(b) says six muscle groups for the pelvic girdle and thigh are diagnostic codes 5313 through 5318. Group XIII is the first code in that span.

FAQ

What percentages does DC 5313 print?

Severe is 40. Moderately Severe is 30. Moderate is 10. Slight is 0. Note (2) of § 4.73 says those four words, for diagnostic codes 5301 through 5323, are determined under § 4.56. Education only.

What happens if the knee is ankylosed?

Section 4.55(c)(1) says that in the case of an ankylosed knee, if muscle group XIII is disabled, it will be rated, but at the next lower level than that which would otherwise be assigned.

Where is this code printed?

The 2026-10-01 text of the muscle-injury schedule is § 4.73. The catalog row cites § 4.71a. Appendix B shortens the name to “Group XIII Function: Extension of hip and flexion of knee.”

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 5313 and whether it used severe, moderately severe, moderate, or slight.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other musculoskeletal codes are on the musculoskeletal diagnostic-code index. The category page is musculoskeletal conditions.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in Musculoskeletal, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Musculoskeletal codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 5313 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.