Injury to muscles of the abdominal wall and lower chest.
Because the rating levels are defined in § 4.56, your evidence should show how your injury measures against those shared criteria for muscle injuries. Medical records documenting the original wound or injury, surgical reports, and treatment history help establish the nature and extent of the muscle damage. Imaging results and physical examination findings that describe muscle loss, scarring, weakness, or limited range of motion in your spine or torso are directly relevant.
Records showing how your abdominal wall or lower thorax functions — or fails to function — are especially useful. This includes notes from providers about your ability to flex or rotate your spine and any weakness during activities requiring downward arm force. Statements from you or people who know you that describe how symptoms affect physical tasks at work or in daily life, such as lifting, bending, or prolonged standing, can help show the degree of functional impairment. A VA or private medical opinion connecting those functional limits to the specific muscles listed under code 5319 strengthens the picture at any rating level.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
