Body system: Muscle InjuriesRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.73
This code covers injuries to the sacrospinalis muscles - the deep back muscles that run along your spine from your tailbone up through your neck and help you stand upright, bend backwards, and lean to the sides. The VA rates these muscle injuries from 0% to 60% based on how severely they affect your ability to move and function normally. Higher ratings mean more severe muscle damage with greater impact on your daily activities and work capacity.
Rating levels
- 40% — Severe damage to the muscles that run along your spine in your neck and upper/middle back areas. These muscles (called sacrospinalis or erector spinae) are responsible for keeping your body upright, helping you stand straight, bend backward, and lean to the sides. At this level, you would have significant muscle weakness, pain, or loss of function that severely limits your ability to maintain good posture and move your spine normally in these regions.
- 20% — You have moderately severe muscle damage or weakness in the muscles that run along your spine in your neck and upper/middle back areas. These muscles (called the sacrospinalis or erector spinae) are responsible for keeping your body upright, helping you stand straight, bend backward, and lean side to side. The damage significantly affects your ability to maintain good posture and move your spine normally, but you still have some function remaining.
- 10% — This criteria covers moderate problems with the muscles that run along your spine in your neck and upper/middle back area - specifically the erector spinae muscles (the long muscles that help you stand upright and bend your spine sideways). You would qualify if you have moderate muscle damage, weakness, or pain in these spinal support muscles that affects your ability to maintain good posture, extend your back, or move your spine from side to side in the neck and chest regions of your spine.
- 0% — You have minor problems with the muscles that support your spine and help you stand upright, bend, and twist in your neck and upper back areas. The muscle damage or weakness is considered slight, meaning it causes minimal symptoms like occasional stiffness, minor aches, or very mild limitations when moving your head, neck, or upper back.
- 60% — The muscles that run along your spine in your lower back (lumbar region) are severely damaged or impaired. These are the muscles that help you stand upright, bend your back, and move your spine from side to side. To qualify as "severe," you would have significant weakness, pain, or loss of function in these core back muscles that substantially limits your ability to maintain good posture and perform normal back movements.
- 40% — You have moderately severe problems with the muscles in your lower back (lumbar region) that support your spine and help you stand upright, bend, and twist. These muscles (called the sacrospinalis or erector spinae) are significantly damaged or weakened, causing substantial pain, stiffness, and difficulty with normal back movements and posture. Your ability to perform daily activities that require bending, lifting, or maintaining good posture is notably impaired, but you can still function with some limitations.
- 20% — You have moderate problems with the muscles in your lower back that help you stand up straight and move your spine from side to side. These muscles (called sacrospinalis or erector spinae) are damaged enough to cause noticeable pain, stiffness, or weakness that limits your daily activities, but you can still function with some difficulty.
- 0% — You have a slight problem with the muscles in your lower back (lumbar region) that support your spine and help you stand upright, bend, and move side to side. The muscle issues are minor and don't significantly limit your ability to perform daily activities or work duties.