38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a
Tabes dorsalis — VA Diagnostic Code 8015
Neurological
Diagnostic code
8015
38 CFR § 4.124a lists Diagnostic Code 8015 as “Tabes dorsalis.” The title ends with a period. The rating cell is empty. The note says to rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Tabes dorsalis.” The catalog slug is dc-8015-tabes-dorsalis.
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
8015 Tabes dorsalis
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc. |
The note ends with “etc.” DC 8015 does not print 100, 60, 30, 10, or 0. It does not print the words “Minimum rating.”
The note printed after DC 8025 is about minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. DC 8015 does not print a minimum-rating cell. This page does not move that minimum onto DC 8015.
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 § 4.14 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 does not contain “tabes” or “8015.” This page does not add DC 8015 to a presumptive row.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8015, 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
The note names four examples and etc.
Convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment, or psychotic involvement, then “etc.” The note does not name a percentage for any of them.
The title already has a period
The § 4.124a cell is “Tabes dorsalis.” Appendix B uses the same words and the same period.
No minimum cell
Unlike several codes from 8000 through 8025, this row does not say “Minimum rating” or “Rate residuals, minimum.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
The DC 8015 note
What the rater needs to see. The severity of the manifestations the note names: convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment, or psychotic involvement, or another manifestation covered by “etc.”
Where that usually lives. The neurological examination and the code used for that manifestation.
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 8015 prints a note and no percentage. This page does not say the form replaces that note.
Related codes and how they interact
Neighboring codes print their own percentages
DC 8000 prints 100 and a residual minimum of 10. DC 8015 does not. The opening of § 4.124a says to refer to the appropriate bodily system of the schedule.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “tabes” or “8015.” This page does not add DC 8015 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 tabes dorsalis under DC 8015?
Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8015 says to rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc. The row does not print a percentage. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does § 3.309 name tabes dorsalis?
The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “tabes” or “8015.”
FAQ
What percentage does DC 8015 print?
None. The note says to rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc. Education only.
Does the title end with a period?
Yes. Both the schedule title and Appendix B are “Tabes dorsalis.”
Is there a minimum rating on this row?
No. The row does not print “Minimum rating.” The minimum-rating note after DC 8025 is not a percentage cell on DC 8015.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 8015 and which manifestation was rated.
- 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
- DC 8007Brain, vessels, embolism
- DC 8008Brain, vessels, thrombosis
- DC 8009Brain, vessels, hemorrhage
- DC 8010Myelitis
- DC 8011Poliomyelitis, anterior
- DC 8012Hematomyelia
- DC 8013Syphilis, cerebrospinal
- DC 8014Syphilis, meningovascular
- DC 8017Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- DC 8018Multiple sclerosis
- DC 8019Meningitis, cerebrospinal, epidemic
- DC 8020Brain, abscess
- DC 8021Spinal cord, malignant new growth
- DC 8022Spinal cord, benign new growth
- DC 8023Progressive muscular atrophy
- DC 8024Syringomyelia
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 8015 • 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.