38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from — VA Diagnostic Code 8009

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8009

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists Diagnostic Code 8009 as “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”. The next lines rate the vascular conditions under Codes 8007 through 8009, for 6 months, at 100, and rate residuals thereafter at a minimum of 10. Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain hemorrhage.” It does not list embolism of the brain vessels.

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 8009

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.

The schedule prints three titles before those two lines. DC 8007 is “Brain, vessels, embolism of.” DC 8008 is “Brain, vessels, thrombosis of.” DC 8009 is “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”. The 100 percent line names Codes 8007 through 8009. The colon is on the DC 8009 title. The 100 percent line is “for 6 months.” The following line is “Rate residuals, thereafter, minimum,” at 10.

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”

DC 8009 does not print a 0 percent line. The minimum of 10 is a minimum rating for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, so the ascertainable-residual note applies to that minimum. The 6-month line does not say the later change is subject to § 3.105(e). 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 hemorrhage is the § 3.309(a) name

The list says “Brain hemorrhage.” The schedule title says “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”. The rating sentence is not limited to DC 8009. It says to rate the vascular conditions under Codes 8007 through 8009.

Six months at 100, then a minimum of 10

The 100 percent cell is “for 6 months.” The next cell is “Rate residuals, thereafter, minimum” at 10. The note requires ascertainable residuals for minimum ratings under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. Ratings above that minimum cite the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation, in addition to the code that identifies the diagnosis.

Embolism is in the rating sentence and not on the chronic list

DC 8007 is “Brain, vessels, embolism of.” Section 3.309(a) does not name embolism. DC 8008 is the schedule title for the separate list name “Brain thrombosis.” 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — for 6 months

What the rater needs to see. A vascular condition rated under Codes 8007 through 8009, for 6 months. DC 8009 is “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”.

Where that usually lives. The records that place the condition in that six-month period.

10 — residuals, thereafter, minimum

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

Where that usually lives. The examination of residuals after the six-month period.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — for 6 months	A vascular condition rated under Codes 8007 through 8009, for 6 months. DC 8009 is “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”.	The records that place the condition in that six-month period.
10 — residuals, thereafter, minimum	Residuals after that period, with ascertainable residuals as the note requires for a minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025.	The examination of residuals after the six-month period.

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 six-month line at 100, the residual minimum at 10, and the note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Thrombosis is a separate chronic-disease name

Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain hemorrhage” and “Brain thrombosis” as separate names. The schedule puts both, with embolism, in one rating sentence. Embolism is not one of those two names.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain hemorrhage.” 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 hemorrhage.

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 hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.309(c) does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.309(d) does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name brain hemorrhage. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name brain hemorrhage. The table to 38 CFR § 3.317 lists “retinal hemorrhage and scarring” under malaria. It does not name brain hemorrhage.

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 8009?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, brain, vessels, hemorrhage from is rated with the other vascular conditions under 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 hemorrhage a chronic disease under § 3.309(a)?

Yes. Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain hemorrhage.” Section 3.307(a)(3) uses one year from separation for that listing. The schedule title is “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”.

FAQ

How does VA rate brain hemorrhage under DC 8009?

The schedule rates the vascular conditions under Codes 8007 through 8009 at 100 percent for 6 months, and rates residuals thereafter at a minimum of 10. DC 8009 is “Brain, vessels, hemorrhage from:”. Education only.

Does the 100 percent continue after 6 months?

The 100 percent line says “for 6 months.” The next line is “Rate residuals, thereafter, minimum,” at 10. The text does not say that change is subject to § 3.105(e).

Is embolism of the brain vessels on the chronic-disease list?

Section 3.309(a) lists “Brain hemorrhage” and “Brain thrombosis.” It does not list embolism. DC 8007 is still inside the rating sentence “Codes 8007 through 8009.”

Next steps

Read the decision for which of codes 8007, 8008, and 8009 was used, 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 8009 • 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.