38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — VA Diagnostic Code 8017

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8017

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists Diagnostic Code 8017 as “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” at 100 percent. Its note says: “Consider the need for special monthly compensation.” The code does not print a minimum rating. Section 3.309(a) lists “Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral.” Section 3.318 is a separate presumption for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested at any time after discharge or release, with the exceptions in paragraph (b).

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 through 79 FR 2100, Jan. 13, 2014.

The rating criteria at each level

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — DC 8017

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Note: Consider the need for special monthly compensation.

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 note printed after DC 8025 addresses minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025. DC 8017’s own line is 100 percent, not a minimum rating. That later note reads: “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 8017 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.”

The SMC note does not name a level under 38 CFR § 3.350 or a rate of pay. The SMC article is a separate page. It does not decide this code.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8017, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

100 percent, not a minimum

The line is “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” at 100. DC 8018, multiple sclerosis, is the neighboring code that prints “Minimum rating” 30. DC 8017 does not print those words.

Special monthly compensation

The note says to consider the need for it. It does not name a letter, a limb, or an amount. The criteria for special monthly compensation are in § 3.350 and 38 U.S.C. § 1114, which this page does not restate.

Two different presumption sections

38 CFR § 3.318(a) says the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested at any time after discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service is sufficient to establish service connection, except as paragraph (b) provides. 38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral” on the time limit in § 3.307(a)(3). Paragraph (a)(3) does not name amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among the diseases with a period longer than 1 year.

The § 3.318 exceptions

Paragraph (b) is part of the section. Service connection will not be established under § 3.318 in the three cases that paragraph lists. They are quoted below.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — the only percentage

What the rater needs to see. A diagnosis the schedule titles “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.”

Where that usually lives. The diagnosis in the record.

The SMC note

What the rater needs to see. The note says to consider the need for special monthly compensation. The facts that § 3.350 uses are a separate reading.

Where that usually lives. The examination findings and [§ 3.350](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/section-3.350).

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — the only percentage	A diagnosis the schedule titles “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.”	The diagnosis in the record.
The SMC note	The note says to consider the need for special monthly compensation. The facts that § 3.350 uses are a separate reading.	The examination findings and [§ 3.350](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/section-3.350).

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 100 percent line and the SMC note. This page does not say the form replaces § 3.318 or § 3.350.

Related codes and how they interact

Multiple sclerosis is the next code

DC 8018 prints a minimum rating of 30. Section 3.309(a) lists “Sclerosis, multiple” separately from “Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral,” and § 3.307(a)(3) names a 7-year period for multiple sclerosis only.

DC 8025 is myasthenia gravis, also a minimum rating of 30. DC 8004 is paralysis agitans, minimum rating 30. Neither note is the DC 8017 note.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.318(a) says: except as provided in paragraph (b), the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested at any time after discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service is sufficient to establish service connection for that disease.

Paragraph (b) says service connection will not be established under this section: (1) if there is affirmative evidence that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was not incurred during or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service; (2) if there is affirmative evidence that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is due to the veteran's own willful misconduct; or (3) if the veteran did not have active, continuous service of 90 days or more. Paragraph (b)(1) does not repeat the words “or space service” from paragraph (a). The authority line cites 38 U.S.C. 501(a)(1). The source note is 73 FR 54693, Sept. 23, 2008, as amended at 87 FR 26126, May 3, 2022.

38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral” among the chronic diseases, on the § 3.307 time limit. It does not use the schedule title “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.” Section 3.309(e) does not name it. Section 3.309(f) does not name it. Section 3.309(d) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name this condition. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name it.

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 8017?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is rated 100 percent. The note says to consider special monthly compensation and does not name a level. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is there a presumption for ALS?

38 CFR § 3.318(a) addresses amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested at any time after discharge or release, except in the three cases in paragraph (b), including active, continuous service of less than 90 days. Section 3.309(a) separately lists “Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral” on the § 3.307 chronic-disease time limit.

FAQ

How does VA rate ALS under DC 8017?

The schedule prints 100 percent for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The note says to consider the need for special monthly compensation. It does not name an SMC level or an amount. Education only.

What does § 3.318 require?

Paragraph (a) covers amyotrophic lateral sclerosis manifested at any time after discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service. Paragraph (b) withholds that presumption for affirmative evidence the disease was not incurred or aggravated in service, for willful misconduct, and when the veteran did not have active, continuous service of 90 days or more.

Is ALS the same rule as the one-year chronic-disease list?

Section 3.309(a) lists “Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral” on the time limit in § 3.307(a)(3). That sentence’s longer periods are for Hansen's disease, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis. Section 3.318 is a different section, and paragraph (a) says “at any time after discharge or release,” subject to paragraph (b).

Is ALS on the herbicide or Camp Lejeune list?

Sections 3.309(e) and 3.309(f) do not name amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral. Sections 3.320, 3.320a, 3.320b, and 3.316 do not name it.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8017, the SMC note, and whether the decision cites § 3.318 or § 3.309(a).
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 8017 • 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.