Muscle Group XXII VA Disability Rating
Diagnostic Code 5322 · 38 CFR §4.73
What Is It?
Muscle Group XXII includes the muscles of the front and lateral neck responsible for head rotation, tilting, and neck flexion. These include the sternocleidomastoid, hyoid muscles, and other anterior neck muscles. These muscles turn your head side to side, tilt it forward, and assist with swallowing and speech. Damage from penetrating wounds to the neck, blast injuries, or severe cervical trauma can impair head movement, swallowing, and voice production.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 30% | Severe injury with major impairment of neck muscle function affecting head control, swallowing, or speech. |
| 20% | Moderately severe injury with notable restriction of head movement. |
| 10% | Moderate injury with some difficulty with head rotation or neck flexion. |
| 0% | Slight injury with minimal functional impact. |
Evidence Needed
- Service records documenting the neck muscle injury
- Treatment and surgical records for the neck wound
- Cervical range of motion measurements
- Assessment of swallowing function if affected
- Statements about difficulty with head turning, swallowing, or speaking
C&P Exam Tips
- Have cervical range of motion formally tested and documented
- Report any difficulty with swallowing food or liquids
- Describe limitations with driving due to inability to check blind spots
- Mention any voice changes or speaking difficulty
- Show neck scarring from the injury
How to File
File under DC 5322 with evidence of the neck muscle injury and cervical range of motion testing. If swallowing or speech is affected, document those functional impacts for potential additional ratings.
Common Mistakes
Not separating the neck muscle injury from cervical spine joint problems — they are different codes Failing to report swallowing difficulty which can support a higher rating and separate conditions Not documenting the impact on driving safety due to limited head turning Missing voice or speech-related claims if anterior neck muscles were damaged
Frequently Asked Questions
Can neck muscle damage affect swallowing?
Yes. The muscles in the front of the neck play a role in the swallowing mechanism. If these muscles are damaged or scarred, swallowing can become difficult or painful. This should be documented separately as it may warrant an additional rating under the digestive system codes.
How is this different from a cervical spine rating?
Muscle Group XXII covers the soft tissue muscles of the neck. Cervical spine ratings cover the vertebral joints and discs. A neck wound could damage both, and both can potentially be rated, though VA will avoid rating the same limitation twice.