38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Encephalitis, epidemic, chronic — VA Diagnostic Code 8000

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8000

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists Diagnostic Code 8000 as “Encephalitis, epidemic, chronic:”. The title ends with a colon. Active febrile disease is 100. Rate residuals, minimum, is 10. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Encephalitis, epidemic, chronic.” The catalog slug is dc-8000-encephalitis-epidemic-chronic.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was last amended on 2026-08-27. On 2026-10-05 the titles list reports up to date as of 2026-10-02. Section 4.124a source note: 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 40 FR 42540, Sept. 15, 1975; 41 FR 11302, Mar. 18, 1976; 43 FR 45362, Oct. 2, 1978; 54 FR 4282, Jan. 30, 1989; 54 FR 49755, Dec. 1, 1989; 55 FR 154, Jan. 3, 1990; 56 FR 51653, Oct. 15, 1991; 57 FR 24364, June 9, 1992; 70 FR 75399, Dec. 20, 2005; 73 FR 54705, Sept. 23, 2008; 73 FR 69554, Nov. 19, 2008; 76 FR 78824, Dec. 20, 2011; 79 FR 2100, Jan. 13, 2014.

The rating criteria at each level

8000 Encephalitis, epidemic, chronic

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). As active febrile disease

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Rate residuals, minimum

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	As active febrile disease
10	Rate residuals, minimum

Neither criteria line ends with a period.

Note (diagnostic codes 8000-8025), printed after the minimum-rating row of DC 8025: 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.

The minimum of 10 is a minimum rating for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, so that note applies to the 10 percent cell. DC 8000 does not print the two-year continuation note. That note is printed under other codes, including DC 8021.

The opening of § 4.124a, in brackets, says: “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.” 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Encephalitis lethargica residuals.” It does not contain “8000” and it does not say “epidemic, chronic.” This page does not add DC 8000 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8000, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 40 FR 42540, Sept. 15, 1975; 41 FR 11302, Mar. 18, 1976; 43 FR 45362, Oct. 2, 1978; 54 FR 4282, Jan. 30, 1989; 54 FR 49755, Dec. 1, 1989; 55 FR 154, Jan. 3, 1990; 56 FR 51653, Oct. 15, 1991; 57 FR 24364, June 9, 1992; 70 FR 75399, Dec. 20, 2005; 73 FR 54705, Sept. 23, 2008; 73 FR 69554, Nov. 19, 2008; 76 FR 78824, Dec. 20, 2011; 79 FR 2100, Jan. 13, 2014.

What the words mean in your records

Active febrile disease

Those three words are the 100 percent line. The line does not say six months, and it does not cite § 3.105(e).

The minimum uses the 8000-8025 note

The 10 percent cell says “Rate residuals, minimum.” The note printed after DC 8025 requires ascertainable residuals for minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. The examples in that note are headaches, dizziness, and fatigability.

Not encephalitis lethargica

Section 3.309(a) uses the words “Encephalitis lethargica residuals.” The schedule title is “Encephalitis, epidemic, chronic.”

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — active febrile disease

What the rater needs to see. Epidemic encephalitis that the record describes as active febrile disease.

Where that usually lives. The diagnosis and the finding the 100 percent line names.

10 — residuals, minimum

What the rater needs to see. Residuals, with ascertainable residuals as the note requires for a minimum rating for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025.

Where that usually lives. The examination of residuals. A rating above that minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — active febrile disease	Epidemic encephalitis that the record describes as active febrile disease.	The diagnosis and the finding the 100 percent line names.
10 — residuals, minimum	Residuals, with ascertainable residuals as the note requires for a minimum rating for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025.	The examination of residuals. A rating above that minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Central Nervous System and Neuromuscular Diseases” under Neurological. The file is Central Nervous System and Neuromuscular Diseases.

The exam form

DC 8000 prints 100 and a residual minimum of 10. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

The shared minimum note is printed after DC 8025

DC 8025 is myasthenia gravis. The note after its minimum-rating row names diagnostic codes 8000-8025. DC 8021 is a malignant new growth of the spinal cord, with its own 100 percent cell and a two-year note DC 8000 does not print.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Encephalitis lethargica residuals.” It does not assign DC 8000. This page does not add DC 8000 to a presumptive row.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

How does VA rate chronic epidemic encephalitis under DC 8000?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8000 is 100 percent as active febrile disease, and residuals are rated at a minimum of 10 percent. The note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025 requires ascertainable residuals for that minimum. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Where is the minimum-rating note printed?

After the minimum-rating row of DC 8025. Its text names diagnostic codes 8000-8025, which includes the residual minimum under DC 8000.

FAQ

What are the DC 8000 percentages?

100 as active febrile disease, and 10 as the minimum for residuals. The ascertainable-residual note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025 applies to that minimum. Education only.

Does DC 8000 print a two-year continuation?

No. That note is on other codes in this part of the table, including DC 8021. It is not printed under DC 8000.

Is encephalitis lethargica this title?

Section 3.309(a) says “Encephalitis lethargica residuals.” The schedule title is “Encephalitis, epidemic, chronic.” The regulation does not assign DC 8000 in that list.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8000 and whether the active-febrile line or the residual minimum was used.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other neurological codes are on the neurological diagnostic-code index. The category page is neurological conditions.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in Neurological, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Neurological codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 8000 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.