VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
DC 8516: Ulnar Nerve, Paralysis
Read VA diagnostic code 8516 for Ulnar nerve, paralysis: published criteria, regulatory notes, related codes and official sources checked October 25, 2026.
Published criteria from 38 CFR 4.124a, current through 2026-10-22. Historical decisions may require a different version. This reference does not diagnose a condition or determine an evaluation.
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders · All Diagnostic Codes
DC 8516: Ulnar Nerve, Paralysis
Diagnostic code 8516 addresses Ulnar nerve, paralysis. Read its specific instructions together with any shared formula, notes and linked provisions. These criteria describe evaluation after the applicable entitlement requirements are met; this reference does not diagnose a condition or determine a claim.
| Schedule of ratings | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
What The Criteria Measure
- Does the decision identify diagnostic code 8516, and does the medical record describe the condition named by this code?
- If the table distinguishes sides, does the record identify the affected side and the dominant extremity?
- Do the examination findings record the relevant movement measurements and explain functional limitations, flare-ups and repeated use where applicable?
- Have the code-specific notes and cross-references been read before comparing any listed evaluation?
Related Public DBQs
Editorial subject matches, not official VA code-to-form assignments. Read the form scope and clinician instructions.
Shared Rules And Regulatory Context
Context provisions do not create an additional evaluation automatically assigned to every condition.
Related Guides
Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
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