Calf Strain (Chronic)

Severe muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(4)): through-and-through or deep penetrating wound by small high-velocity missile or large low-velocity missile, with extensive debridement, prolonged infection, or sloughing of soft parts. Objective findings: ragged / depressed / adherent scars indicating wide damage to muscle groups in the missile track; loss of deep fascia, muscle substance, or normal firm resistance compared to sound side; palpable evidence of loss of deep fascia / muscle substance / weakened contraction.

Moderately Severe muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(3)): through-and-through or deep penetrating wound by small high-velocity missile, or large low-velocity missile, with debridement; prolonged infection; or sloughing of soft parts; with intermuscular scarring. Objective: indications on palpation of moderate loss of deep fascia, muscle substance, or normal firm resistance of muscles compared with sound side; tests of strength and endurance compared with sound side demonstrate positive evidence of impairment.

Moderate muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(2)): through-and-through or deep penetrating wound of short track from a single bullet, small shell, or shrapnel fragment, without explosive effect of high-velocity missile, residuals of debridement, or prolonged infection. Objective: entrance and (if present) exit scars, small or linear, indicating short track of missile through muscle tissue; some loss of deep fascia or muscle substance; some impairment of muscle tonus and loss of power or lowered threshold of fatigue when compared to the sound side.

Slight muscle disability (per § 4.56(d)(1)): simple wound of muscle without debridement or infection. Objective: minimal scar; no evidence of fascial defect, atrophy, or impaired tonus; no impairment of function or metallic fragments retained in muscle tissue.