Injury to muscles that straighten the elbow.
Because the rating levels are defined in § 4.56, the evidence that helps most is evidence that speaks directly to the severity of the muscle injury itself. Medical records documenting the original wound or injury, surgical reports, and imaging that shows the extent of damage to the triceps or anconeus are all relevant. Examination findings that measure elbow extension strength, range of motion, and muscle bulk or atrophy help show where on the severity scale your injury falls.
Records that capture how the injury affects the stability of your shoulder joint may also be useful, since the triceps long head serves that stabilizing role. Statements from you or people who know you describing difficulty pushing, lifting, or straightening your arm during work or daily activities can help show functional loss. Documentation that clearly identifies which arm is affected — dominant or nondominant — matters because the ratings differ between the two arms at the moderately severe and severe levels.
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.
