38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Spinal cord, new growth, malignant — VA Diagnostic Code 8021

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8021

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38 CFR § 4.124a places Diagnostic Code 8021 under the heading “Spinal cord, new growths of:”. The criteria cell is “Malignant” and the rating cell is 100. A note continues that rating for 2 years after treatment stops, then rates stabilized residuals on neurological residuals. A further cell is “Minimum rating” at 30. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Malignant.” The catalog slug is dc-8021-malignant.

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

Spinal cord, new growths of — 8021 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 8021 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.

That note ends with a period. It does not cite § 3.105(e). The word “Malignant” does not end with a period.

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 minimum of 30 is a minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, so that note applies to the 30 percent cell.

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 § 4.7 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.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” It does not contain “8021” and it does not assign this code. This page does not add DC 8021 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8021, 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 heading is spinal cord, new growths

Appendix B says only “Malignant.” The schedule heading above the code is “Spinal cord, new growths of:”. The next code, 8022, is the benign row under that same heading.

Two years, then residuals

The note continues the rating for 2 years following cessation of surgical, chemotherapeutic or other treatment modality. If the residuals have stabilized, the rating is made on neurological residuals according to symptomatology. The note does not cite § 3.105(e).

Minimum rating of 30

That cell is separate from the 100. The note after DC 8025 requires ascertainable residuals for minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100, and the two-year note

What the rater needs to see. A malignant new growth of the spinal cord, and the date surgical, chemotherapeutic, or other treatment stopped, when the two-year continuation is the question.

Where that usually lives. The pathology and the treatment-cessation date.

30 — minimum

What the rater needs to see. Ascertainable residuals for the minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025.

Where that usually lives. The neurological examination. A rating above the minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100, and the two-year note	A malignant new growth of the spinal cord, and the date surgical, chemotherapeutic, or other treatment stopped, when the two-year continuation is the question.	The pathology and the treatment-cessation date.
30 — minimum	Ascertainable residuals for the minimum rating under diagnostic codes 8000-8025.	The neurological examination. A rating above the minimum cites the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation.

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 8021 prints 100, a two-year note, and a minimum of 30. This page does not say the form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

The minimum note is shared through DC 8025

DC 8025 is where the ascertainable-residual note is printed. DC 8000 is chronic epidemic encephalitis. It does not print this two-year note.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” It does not assign DC 8021. This page does not add DC 8021 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 a malignant new growth of the spinal cord under DC 8021?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8021 is 100 percent for malignant. The note continues that rating for 2 years after treatment stops, then rates stabilized residuals on neurological residuals. A minimum rating of 30 also appears. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does the tumor sentence in § 3.309 assign DC 8021?

No. Section 3.309(a) lists “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” It does not contain “8021.”

FAQ

What percentages does DC 8021 print?

100 for malignant, and a minimum rating of 30. The note continues the rating for 2 years after surgical, chemotherapeutic, or other treatment stops. Education only.

Does the two-year note cite § 3.105(e)?

No. The note does not cite § 3.105(e). It ends with “symptomatology.”

Why does Appendix B say only “Malignant”?

That is the Appendix B line. The schedule heading is “Spinal cord, new growths of:”. The criteria cell under DC 8021 is the single word “Malignant.”

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8021, the treatment-cessation date, and whether the minimum of 30 was used.
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 8021 • 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.