38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Brain, vessels, thrombosis of — VA Diagnostic Code 8008

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8008

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists Diagnostic Code 8008 as “Brain, vessels, thrombosis of.” The rating lines that follow DC 8009 apply to Codes 8007 through 8009: 100 percent for 6 months, then residuals at a minimum of 10. Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain thrombosis.” It does not list embolism.

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

Codes 8007 through 8009, including DC 8008

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Rate the vascular conditions under Codes 8007 through 8009, for 6 months

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Rate residuals, thereafter, minimum

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Rate the vascular conditions under Codes 8007 through 8009, for 6 months
10	Rate residuals, thereafter, minimum

Note (diagnostic codes 8000-8025): 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.

DC 8008’s title ends with a period: “Brain, vessels, thrombosis of.” DC 8007’s title also ends with a period: “Brain, vessels, embolism of.” DC 8009’s title ends with a colon: “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”. The 100 and 10 percent lines are printed after that colon, and the 100 percent line names Codes 8007 through 8009.

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 6-month line does not cite § 3.105(e). The minimum of 10 is covered by the ascertainable-residual note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025. DC 8008 does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says: “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.” 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 Codes 8007 through 8009, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Brain thrombosis is the list name

Section 3.309(a) says “Brain thrombosis.” The schedule title is “Brain, vessels, thrombosis of.” The period is part of that title in the table.

The same two lines cover 8007, 8008, and 8009

“Rate the vascular conditions under Codes 8007 through 8009, for 6 months” is 100. “Rate residuals, thereafter, minimum” is 10. DC 8009 is hemorrhage. DC 8007 is embolism. Embolism is not a § 3.309(a) name.

The minimum uses the 8000-8025 note

The note requires ascertainable residuals for the minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. A rating above the minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation, in addition to the code that identifies the diagnosis.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — for 6 months

What the rater needs to see. A vascular condition under Codes 8007 through 8009 during that six-month period. DC 8008 is thrombosis.

Where that usually lives. The records that place the thrombosis in that period.

10 — residuals thereafter

What the rater needs to see. Residuals after the six months, with the note’s ascertainable residuals for the minimum.

Where that usually lives. The examination of those residuals.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — for 6 months	A vascular condition under Codes 8007 through 8009 during that six-month period. DC 8008 is thrombosis.	The records that place the thrombosis in that period.
10 — residuals thereafter	Residuals after the six months, with the note’s ascertainable residuals for the minimum.	The examination of those residuals.

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

The schedule text is the shared 100 and 10 percent lines and the note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Hemorrhage is the other named vascular disease

Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain hemorrhage” separately from “Brain thrombosis.” Both schedule titles sit in the Codes 8007 through 8009 sentence. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain thrombosis.” 38 CFR § 3.309(a) says the following diseases shall be granted service connection although not otherwise established as incurred in or aggravated by service if manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable time limits under § 3.307 following service in a period of war or following peacetime service on or after January 1, 1947, provided the rebuttable presumption provisions of § 3.307 are also satisfied. 38 CFR § 3.307(a) says no condition other than one listed in § 3.309(a) will be considered chronic. 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(1) says the veteran must have served 90 days or more during a war period or after December 31, 1946. 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(3) says the disease must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within 1 year (for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis, within 3 years; multiple sclerosis, within 7 years) from the date of separation from service as specified in paragraph (a)(2). The longer periods do not name brain thrombosis.

38 CFR § 3.308(a) says there is no provision for presumptive service connection for chronic disease as distinguished from tropical diseases referred to in paragraph (b) of this section based on peacetime service before January 1, 1947.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(b) does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.309(c) does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.309(d) does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name brain thrombosis. 38 CFR § 3.317 does not name brain thrombosis.

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

What is the VA rating for DC 8008?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, brain, vessels, thrombosis of is rated with Codes 8007 through 8009: 100 percent for 6 months, then residuals at a minimum of 10. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is brain thrombosis a chronic disease under § 3.309(a)?

Yes. Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain thrombosis.” Section 3.307(a)(3) uses one year from separation for that listing.

FAQ

How does VA rate brain thrombosis under DC 8008?

DC 8008 is “Brain, vessels, thrombosis of.” The schedule rates Codes 8007 through 8009 at 100 percent for 6 months and rates residuals thereafter at a minimum of 10. Education only.

Why does the 100 percent line mention 8007 and 8009?

The line says “under Codes 8007 through 8009.” DC 8007 is embolism. DC 8009 is hemorrhage. Section 3.309(a) names brain thrombosis and brain hemorrhage. It does not name embolism.

Is brain thrombosis on the herbicide list?

The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309(e) does not name brain thrombosis. Sections 3.309(f), 3.309(d), 3.316, 3.317, 3.320, 3.320a, and 3.320b do not name it.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8008 and whether the evaluation is the six-month line or the residual 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.

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 8008 • 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.