Body system: Muscle InjuriesRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.73
This diagnostic code covers injuries to the muscles that help you breathe, specifically the muscles in your chest wall and ribcage area. The VA rates these injuries based on how severely they affect your breathing function, ranging from 0% for slight impairment up to 20% for severe problems. Higher ratings mean the muscle damage significantly interferes with your ability to breathe normally during daily activities.
Rating levels
- 20% — You have severe or moderately severe damage to the muscles in your chest that help you breathe (the muscles between your ribs and around your ribcage). This means you likely experience significant difficulty breathing, especially during physical activity, and may have noticeable chest wall weakness or pain that interferes with your daily activities.
- 10% — A moderate injury to your chest muscles that help you breathe causes noticeable difficulty with breathing during physical activity or exertion. You may experience shortness of breath, chest tightness, or fatigue more easily than normal when doing everyday tasks like climbing stairs or walking briskly. The breathing problems are clearly present and affect your daily activities, but don't completely prevent you from functioning.
- 0% — You have very minor problems with the muscles in your chest area that help you breathe, but these issues barely affect your daily life. Your breathing difficulties are minimal and don't significantly limit your ability to work, exercise, or perform normal activities. The muscle weakness or damage in your chest is present but causes only slight symptoms that you might notice occasionally.