Group II. Function: Depression of arm from vertical overhead to hanging at side; downward rotation of scapula; 1 and 2 act with Group III in forward and backward swing of arm. Extrinsic muscles of shoulder girdle: Pectoralis major II; latissimus dorsi and teres major; pectoralis minor; rhomboid (DC 5302)

Rating levels

• 40% — You have severe damage to the major muscles that pull your arm down from overhead and control your shoulder blade movement. This includes severe injury to your chest muscles (pectoralis major and minor), back muscles (latissimus dorsi), and the muscles between your shoulder blades (rhomboids and teres major) that work together to move your arm forward, backward, and down to your side. The damage significantly limits your ability to perform normal arm and shoulder movements.
• 30% — A veteran has severe damage to the major muscles that pull the arm down from overhead and control the shoulder blade, including the chest muscles, back muscles, and smaller stabilizing muscles around the shoulder. This means significant difficulty or inability to lower the arm from an overhead position, swing the arm forward and backward normally, or control shoulder blade movement. The muscle damage severely limits normal arm and shoulder function in daily activities like reaching, lifting, or moving the arm through its normal range of motion.
• 30% — You have moderately severe damage to the muscles that pull your arm down from overhead and help rotate your shoulder blade, including your chest muscles, back muscles, and the smaller muscles around your shoulder blade. This means you have significant difficulty and weakness when lowering your arm from an overhead position back down to your side, and your shoulder blade doesn't move properly when you swing your arm forward and backward.
• 20% — You have moderately severe damage to the major muscles that pull your arm down from overhead and control your shoulder blade movement. This affects muscles like your chest muscle (pectoralis major), back muscles (latissimus dorsi), and the smaller muscles that move your shoulder blade (pectoralis minor and rhomboid). These muscle injuries significantly limit your ability to lower your arm from an overhead position and cause noticeable problems with normal arm swinging motions.
• 20% — You have moderate injury to the muscles that pull your arm down from overhead and help move your shoulder blade, including your chest muscles, back muscles, and the smaller muscles under your shoulder blade. This means you have noticeable difficulty and pain when lowering your arm from above your head to your side, moving your arm forward and backward, or pulling your shoulder blade down and inward. Your symptoms are more than mild but not severe enough to significantly limit your daily activities.
• 20% — You have moderate injury to the muscles that pull your arm down from overhead and help move your shoulder blade, including your chest muscles, back muscles, and the smaller muscles under your shoulder blade. This means you have noticeable difficulty and pain when lowering your arm from above your head to your side, moving your arm forward and backward, or pulling your shoulder blade down and inward. Your symptoms are more than mild but not severe enough to significantly limit your daily activities.
• 0% — You have slight muscle weakness or damage in the major muscles that help move your shoulder and arm, including the chest muscles (pectoralis), back muscles (latissimus dorsi), and shoulder blade muscles (rhomboids). These muscles work together to lift your arm overhead, pull it down to your side, and swing it forward and backward. The muscle problems you have are minor and cause only minimal limitations in these arm and shoulder movements.
• 0% — You have slight muscle weakness or damage in the major muscles that help move your shoulder and arm, including the chest muscles (pectoralis), back muscles (latissimus dorsi), and shoulder blade muscles (rhomboids). These muscles work together to lift your arm overhead, pull it down to your side, and swing it forward and backward. The muscle problems you have are minor and cause only minimal limitations in these arm and shoulder movements.