38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Progressive muscular atrophy — VA Diagnostic Code 8023

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8023

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists Diagnostic Code 8023 as “Progressive muscular atrophy,” with a minimum rating of 30. Section 3.309(a) lists “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” The words are the same and the order is not. Section 3.307(a)(3) uses one year. It does not give this disease the 3-year or 7-year periods.

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

Progressive muscular atrophy — DC 8023

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Minimum rating

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
30	Minimum rating

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 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 8023 does not print a 0 percent line and does not print an active-disease line at 100. 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 Code 8023, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The list reverses the schedule title

Section 3.309(a) says “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” The schedule title is “Progressive muscular atrophy.” The catalog has one code with that schedule title.

Minimum rating of 30

The only percentage cell under DC 8023 is “Minimum rating” at 30. The note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025 requires ascertainable residuals for that minimum. Subjective residuals that are not capable of objective verification are accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease. The examples in that sentence are headaches, dizziness, and fatigability.

One year, not the multiple-sclerosis period

Section 3.307(a)(3) names 7 years for multiple sclerosis and 3 years for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis. Progressive muscular atrophy stays in the one-year sentence. DC 8017 prints 100 percent for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. DC 8023 does not print that line.

Evidence that speaks to each level

30 — minimum, with ascertainable residuals

What the rater needs to see. A diagnosis the schedule titles “Progressive muscular atrophy,” and ascertainable residuals. The note says subjective residuals are accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease.

Where that usually lives. The diagnosis and the examination of residuals.

Above 30

What the rater needs to see. The note requires the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation to be cited, in addition to DC 8023, when a rating above the minimum is assigned.

Where that usually lives. The decision’s cited codes, and the bodily system the opening of § 4.124a points to.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
30 — minimum, with ascertainable residuals	A diagnosis the schedule titles “Progressive muscular atrophy,” and ascertainable residuals. The note says subjective residuals are accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease.	The diagnosis and the examination of residuals.
Above 30	The note requires the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation to be cited, in addition to DC 8023, when a rating above the minimum is assigned.	The decision’s cited codes, and the bodily system the opening of § 4.124a points to.

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 minimum rating of 30 and the note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025. This page does not say the form replaces that note.

Related codes and how they interact

Neighboring minimum ratings of 30

DC 8024 is syringomyelia and DC 8025 is myasthenia gravis. Each prints “Minimum rating” 30. Section 3.309(a) lists “Syringomyelia” and “Myasthenia gravis” as separate names from “Atrophy, progressive muscular.”

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” 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 progressive muscular atrophy.

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 progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.309(c) does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.309(d) does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name progressive muscular atrophy. 38 CFR § 3.317 does not name progressive muscular atrophy.

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 8023?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, progressive muscular atrophy has a minimum rating of 30 when the note’s ascertainable-residual requirement is met. The code does not print a 0 percent line. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is progressive muscular atrophy a chronic disease under § 3.309(a)?

Yes. Section 3.309(a) lists “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” Section 3.307(a)(3) uses one year from separation for that listing. The 7-year period in the same sentence is for multiple sclerosis.

FAQ

How does VA rate progressive muscular atrophy under DC 8023?

The schedule prints a minimum rating of 30. The note for diagnostic codes 8000-8025 requires ascertainable residuals for that minimum. Ratings above the minimum cite the diagnostic codes used as the bases of evaluation, in addition to DC 8023. Education only.

Why do the list and the schedule use a different word order?

Section 3.309(a) says “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” Section 4.124a says “Progressive muscular atrophy.” Those are the printed titles. The one-year rule in § 3.307(a)(3) is the time limit for this name.

Is progressive muscular atrophy on the herbicide or Camp Lejeune list?

The 2026-10-01 text of §§ 3.309(e) and 3.309(f) does not name progressive muscular atrophy. Sections 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 8023, the minimum rating, and any other diagnostic code cited for a rating above 30.
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 8023 • 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.