Injury to the front thigh muscles that straighten the knee and help stabilize the hip and knee.
Because the rating levels for this condition are defined in § 4.56, the evidence that matters most is whatever shows how severely the anterior thigh muscles have been damaged and how that damage affects function. Medical records documenting the original injury, surgical reports, and imaging studies help establish what happened to the muscles. Examination findings that measure strength, range of motion, and any muscle wasting or scarring in the thigh are directly relevant to distinguishing slight from moderate or higher ratings. Records of pain, fatigue, or weakness during weight-bearing activities also bear on severity. Statements from you or people who know you describing difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or standing for extended periods can show how the loss of knee extension function affects your daily life and work.
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.
