VA BENEFITS REFERENCE

38 CFR 4.124a: Shared Regulatory Context

Read the source context and regulatory notes referenced by diagnostic-code pages using 38 CFR 4.124a, with official citations and the current text date.

Independent Education · Official Sources · Last Verified October 25, 2026

These source provisions supply context for the linked rating criteria. They are not separate evaluations automatically assigned to every condition. Read the diagnostic code and its own cross-references together.

Minimum Residuals Note - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Note: It is required for the minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, that there be ascertainable residuals. Determinations as to the presence of residuals not capable of objective verification, i.e., headaches, dizziness, fatigability, must be approached on the basis of the diagnosis recorded; subjective residuals will be accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease. It is of exceptional importance that when ratings in excess of the prescribed minimum ratings are assigned, the diagnostic codes utilized as bases of evaluation be cited, in addition to the codes identifying the diagnoses.

[With the exceptions noted, disability from the following diseases and their residuals may be rated from 10 percent to 100 percent in proportion to the impairment of motor, sensory, or mental function. Consider especially psychotic manifestations, complete or partial loss of use of one or more extremities, speech disturbances, impairment of vision, disturbances of gait, tremors, visceral manifestations, etc., referring to the appropriate bodily system of the schedule. With partial loss of use of one or more extremities from neurological lesions, rate by comparison with the mild, moderate, severe, or complete paralysis of peripheral nerves]

Brain Growth - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Brain, new growth of:

Cranial Nerve General Provisions - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Disability from lesions of peripheral portions of first, second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth nerves will be rated under the Organs of Special Sense. The ratings for the cranial nerves are for unilateral involvement; when bilateral, combine but without the bilateral factor.

Nerve Group 1 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve

Nerve Group 10 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Seventh (facial) cranial nerve

Nerve Group 18 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve

Nerve Group 26 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Tenth (pneumogastric, vagus) cranial nerve

Nerve Group 34 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve.

Nerve Group 42 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Twelfth (hypoglossal) cranial nerve.

Diagnostic Code 8205 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8205 Paralysis of:
Complete	50
Incomplete, severe	30
Incomplete, moderate	10
Note: Dependent upon relative degree of sensory manifestation or motor loss.

Diagnostic Code 8207 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8207 Paralysis of:
Complete	30
Incomplete, severe	20
Incomplete, moderate	10
Note: Dependent upon relative loss of innervation of facial muscles.

Diagnostic Code 8209 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8209 Paralysis of:
Complete	30
Incomplete, severe	20
Incomplete, moderate	10
Note: Dependent upon relative loss of ordinary sensation in mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils.

Diagnostic Code 8210 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8210 Paralysis of:
Complete	50
Incomplete, severe	30
Incomplete, moderate	10
Note : Dependent upon extent of sensory and motor loss to organs of voice, respiration, pharynx, stomach and heart.

Diagnostic Code 8211 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8211 Paralysis of:
Complete	30
Incomplete, severe	20
Incomplete, moderate	10
Note: Dependent upon loss of motor function of sternomastoid and trapezius muscles.

Diagnostic Code 8212 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8212 Paralysis of:
Complete	50
Incomplete, severe	30
Incomplete, moderate	10
Note: Dependent upon loss of motor function of tongue.

Nerve Group 1 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals)

Peripheral Incomplete Paralysis - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
The term “incomplete paralysis,” with this and other peripheral nerve injuries, indicates a degree of lost or impaired function substantially less than the type picture for complete paralysis given with each nerve, whether due to varied level of the nerve lesion or to partial regeneration. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should be for the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateral involvement; when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor.

Combined Nerve Injuries - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Note: Combined nerve injuries should be rated by reference to the major involvement, or if sufficient in extent, consider radicular group ratings.

Nerve Group 10 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Middle radicular group

Nerve Group 19 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Lower radicular group

Nerve Group 28 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
All radicular groups

Nerve Group 37 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
The musculospiral nerve (radial nerve)

Radial Nerve Lesion Note - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Note: Lesions involving only “dissociation of extensor communis digitorum” and “paralysis below the extensor communis digitorum,” will not exceed the moderate rating under code 8514.

Nerve Group 47 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
The median nerve

Nerve Group 56 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
The ulnar nerve

Nerve Group 65 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Musculocutaneous nerve

Nerve Group 74 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Circumflex nerve

Nerve Group 83 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
Long thoracic nerve

Nerve Group 0 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Sciatic nerve

Nerve Group 10 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
External popliteal nerve (common peroneal)

Nerve Group 19 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Musculocutaneous nerve (superficial peroneal)

Nerve Group 28 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Anterior tibial nerve (deep peroneal)

Nerve Group 37 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Internal popliteal nerve (tibial)

Nerve Group 46 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Posterior tibial nerve

Nerve Group 55 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Anterior crural nerve (femoral)

Nerve Group 64 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Internal saphenous nerve

Nerve Group 70 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Obturator nerve

Nerve Group 76 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
External cutaneous nerve of thigh

Nerve Group 82 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
Ilio-inguinal nerve

Diagnostic Code 8510 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8510 Paralysis of:
Complete; all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected	70	60
Incomplete:
Severe	50	40
Moderate	40	30
Mild	20	20

Diagnostic Code 8511 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8511 Paralysis of:
Complete; adduction, abduction and rotation of arm, flexion of elbow, and extension of wrist lost or severely affected	70	60
Incomplete:
Severe	50	40
Moderate	40	30
Mild	20	20

Diagnostic Code 8512 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8512 Paralysis of:
Complete; all intrinsic muscles of hand, and some or all of flexors of wrist and fingers, paralyzed (substantial loss of use of hand)	70	60
Incomplete:
Severe	50	40
Moderate	40	30
Mild	20	20

Diagnostic Code 8513 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8513 Paralysis of:
Complete	90	80
Incomplete:
Severe	70	60
Moderate	40	30
Mild	20	20

Diagnostic Code 8514 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8514 Paralysis of:
Complete; drop of hand and fingers, wrist and fingers perpetually flexed, the thumb adducted falling within the line of the outer border of the index finger; can not extend hand at wrist, extend proximal phalanges of fingers, extend thumb, or make lateral movement of wrist; supination of hand, extension and flexion of elbow weakened, the loss of synergic motion of extensors impairs the hand grip seriously; total paralysis of the triceps occurs only as the greatest rarity	70	60
Incomplete:
Severe	50	40
Moderate	30	20
Mild	20	20

Diagnostic Code 8515 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8515 Paralysis of:
Complete; the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand); pronation incomplete and defective, absence of flexion of index finger and feeble flexion of middle finger, cannot make a fist, index and middle fingers remain extended; cannot flex distal phalanx of thumb, defective opposition and abduction of the thumb, at right angles to palm; flexion of wrist weakened; pain with trophic disturbances	70	60
Incomplete:
Severe	50	40
Moderate	30	20
Mild	10	10

Diagnostic Code 8516 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8516 Paralysis of:
Complete; the “griffin claw” deformity, due to flexor contraction of ring and little fingers, atrophy very marked in dorsal interspace and thenar and hypothenar eminences; loss of extension of ring and little fingers cannot spread the fingers (or reverse), cannot adduct the thumb; flexion of wrist weakened	60	50
Incomplete:
Severe	40	30
Moderate	30	20
Mild	10	10

Diagnostic Code 8517 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8517 Paralysis of:
Complete; weakness but not loss of flexion of elbow and supination of forearm	30	20
Incomplete:
Severe	20	20
Moderate	10	10
Mild	0	0

Diagnostic Code 8518 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8518 Paralysis of:
Complete; abduction of arm is impossible, outward rotation is weakened; muscles supplied are deltoid and teres minor	50	40
Incomplete:
Severe	30	20
Moderate	10	10
Mild	0	0

Diagnostic Code 8519 - 38 CFR 4.124a
Schedule of ratings	Rating
Schedule of ratings	Major	Minor
8519 Paralysis of:
Complete; inability to raise arm above shoulder level, winged scapula deformity	30	20
Incomplete:
Severe	20	20
Moderate	10	10
Mild	0	0
Note: Not to be combined with lost motion above shoulder level.

Diagnostic Code 8520 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8520 Paralysis of:
Complete; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost	80
Incomplete:
Severe, with marked muscular atrophy	60
Moderately severe	40
Moderate	20
Mild	10

Diagnostic Code 8521 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8521 Paralysis of:
Complete; foot drop and slight droop of first phalanges of all toes, cannot dorsiflex the foot, extension (dorsal flexion) of proximal phalanges of toes lost; abduction of foot lost, adduction weakened; anesthesia covers entire dorsum of foot and toes	40
Incomplete:
Severe	30
Moderate	20
Mild	10

Diagnostic Code 8522 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8522 Paralysis of:
Complete; eversion of foot weakened	30
Incomplete:
Severe	20
Moderate	10
Mild	0

Diagnostic Code 8523 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8523 Paralysis of:
Complete; dorsal flexion of foot lost	30
Incomplete:
Severe	20
Moderate	10
Mild	0

Diagnostic Code 8524 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8524 Paralysis of:
Complete; plantar flexion lost, frank adduction of foot impossible, flexion and separation of toes abolished; no muscle in sole can move; in lesions of the nerve high in popliteal fossa, plantar flexion of foot is lost	40
Incomplete:
Severe	30
Moderate	20
Mild	10

Diagnostic Code 8525 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8525 Paralysis of:
Complete; paralysis of all muscles of sole of foot, frequently with painful paralysis of a causalgic nature; toes cannot be flexed; adduction is weakened; plantar flexion is impaired	30
Incomplete:
Severe	20
Moderate	10
Mild	10

Diagnostic Code 8526 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8526 Paralysis of:
Complete; paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles	40
Incomplete:
Severe	30
Moderate	20
Mild	10

Diagnostic Code 8527 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8527 Paralysis of:
Severe to complete	10
Mild to moderate	0

Diagnostic Code 8528 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8528 Paralysis of:
Severe to complete	10
Mild or moderate	0

Diagnostic Code 8529 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8529 Paralysis of:
Severe to complete	10
Mild or moderate	0

Diagnostic Code 8530 - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
8530 Paralysis of:
Severe to complete	10
Mild or moderate	0

Opening Context - 38 CFR 4.124a
	Rating
A thorough study of all material in §§ 4.121 and 4.122 of the preface and under the ratings for epilepsy is necessary prior to any rating action.
Mental Disorders in Epilepsies: A nonpsychotic organic brain syndrome will be rated separately under the appropriate diagnostic code (e.g., 9304 or 9326). In the absence of a diagnosis of non-psychotic organic psychiatric disturbance (psychotic, psychoneurotic or personality disorder) if diagnosed and shown to be secondary to or directly associated with epilepsy will be rated separately. The psychotic or psychroneurotic disorder will be rated under the appropriate diagnostic code. The personality disorder will be rated as a dementia (e.g., diagnostic code 9304 or 9326).
Epilepsy and Unemployability: (1) Rating specialists must bear in mind that the epileptic, although his or her seizures are controlled, may find employment and rehabilitation difficult of attainment due to employer reluctance to the hiring of the epileptic.
(2) Where a case is encountered with a definite history of unemployment, full and complete development should be undertaken to ascertain whether the epilepsy is the determining factor in his or her inability to obtain employment.
(3) The assent of the claimant should first be obtained for permission to conduct this economic and social survey. The purpose of this survey is to secure all the relevant facts and data necessary to permit of a true judgment as to the reason for his or her unemployment and should include information as to:
(a) Education;
(b) Occupations prior and subsequent to service;
(c) Places of employment and reasons for termination;
(d) Wages received;
(e) Number of seizures.
(4) Upon completion of this survey and current examination, the case should have rating board consideration. Where in the judgment of the rating board the veteran's unemployability is due to epilepsy and jurisdiction is not vested in that body by reason of schedular evaluations, the case should be submitted to the Compensation Service or the Director, Pension and Fiduciary Service.

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Official Sources

Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-4/section-4.124a

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