38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Brain, new growth of, malignant — VA Diagnostic Code 8002

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8002

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38 CFR § 4.124a prints “Brain, new growth of:” with an empty rating cell, then Diagnostic Code 8002, “Malignant,” at 100. A note and a minimum rating of 30 follow that row. Appendix B to Part 4 says “Malignant.” The index does not repeat “Brain, new growth of.”

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.124a 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.

The rating criteria at each level

Brain, new growth of — 8002 Malignant

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Malignant

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Minimum rating

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Malignant
30	Minimum rating

Note: The rating in code 8002 will be continued for 2 years following cessation of surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality. At this point, if the residuals have stabilized, the rating will be made on neurological residuals according to symptomatology.

The “Brain, new growth of:” line is indented with the residual lines under DC 8000 and has an empty rating cell. “8002 Malignant” is the next row, at 100. The note and “Minimum rating” at 30 are indented under that row.

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 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.” The DC 8002 note says the rating in code 8002 continues for 2 years following cessation of surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality, and that if the residuals have stabilized, the rating will be made on neurological residuals according to symptomatology. It says “2 years,” “chemotherapeutic,” and “code 8002.” It does not place a comma before “or.”

The minimum of 30 is a minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, so the ascertainable-residual note applies to that minimum. That note is printed after DC 8025, myasthenia gravis. Its words name codes 8000-8025. DC 8003 is the next row, “Benign, minimum,” at 60, then “Rate residuals, minimum” at 10. Those are not the DC 8002 lines. 38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. DC 8002 does not print a 0 percent line. 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.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8002, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Malignant, at 100

The percentage cell on “8002 Malignant” is 100. The parent line “Brain, new growth of:” has no percentage of its own.

Two years, then residuals

The note continues the rating in code 8002 for 2 years following cessation of surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality. It then says that if the residuals have stabilized, the rating will be made on neurological residuals according to symptomatology.

Minimum rating of 30

The minimum-rating cell under DC 8002 is 30. The note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025 requires ascertainable residuals for that minimum. Subjective residuals are accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease. The examples in that sentence are headaches, dizziness, and fatigability.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100, continued for 2 years

What the rater needs to see. A malignant new growth of the brain, and the cessation date of surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality when the note’s 2-year period is the one being counted.

Where that usually lives. The diagnosis and the treatment record that shows the modality and when it ceased.

30 — minimum, with ascertainable residuals

What the rater needs to see. Ascertainable residuals for the minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. A rating above that minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation, in addition to the code that identifies the diagnosis.

Where that usually lives. The examination of residuals and the codes the decision cites.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100, continued for 2 years	A malignant new growth of the brain, and the cessation date of surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality when the note’s 2-year period is the one being counted.	The diagnosis and the treatment record that shows the modality and when it ceased.
30 — minimum, with ascertainable residuals	Ascertainable residuals for the minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. A rating above that minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation, in addition to the code that identifies the diagnosis.	The examination of residuals and the codes the decision cites.

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 8002 prints 100, the two-year note, and a minimum of 30. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Benign new growth of the brain is DC 8003.

DC 8003 says “Benign, minimum” at 60 and “Rate residuals, minimum” at 10. DC 8002 says “Malignant” at 100, with its own note and a minimum of 30.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” That entry does not assign DC 8002. 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(3) uses one year for a disease listed in § 3.309(a), and names longer periods for Hansen’s disease (leprosy), tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis. It does not name a longer period for the tumors entry. The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.124a does not print “glioblastoma” on the DC 8002 row. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not contain “brain.” The brain-cancer and glioblastoma names in the presumption list have no diagnostic code.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for a malignant new growth of the brain?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8002 is 100 percent for malignant, with a note that continues that rating for 2 years after the named treatment ceases, and a minimum rating of 30. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

What does Appendix B call this code?

Appendix B says “Malignant.” The rating table places that word under “Brain, new growth of:” as “8002 Malignant.”

FAQ

What does DC 8002 print?

“Malignant” at 100, a note that continues the rating in code 8002 for 2 years after surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality ceases, and a minimum rating of 30. The parent line is “Brain, new growth of:”. Education only.

Where is the minimum-rating note for codes 8000 through 8025?

It is printed after the minimum-rating row of DC 8025. Its text requires ascertainable residuals for the minimum ratings under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, which includes the minimum of 30 under DC 8002.

Does the chronic-disease list assign this code?

Section 3.309(a) says “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” That entry does not assign DC 8002. Benign new growth of the brain is DC 8003.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8002, the treatment-cessation date, and any other diagnostic code cited for residuals above the minimum.
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 8002 • va.gov

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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.