38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Neuralgia, ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8409

Neurological

Diagnostic code

8409

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists “Ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve” and then Diagnostic Code 8409 as “Neuralgia.” The row prints no percentage. Section 4.124 rates neuralgia on the same scale as the nerve, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. The paralysis scale for this nerve is DC 8209. That scale has one Rating column. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Neuralgia, ninth cranial nerve.” The catalog slug is dc-8409-neuralgia-ninth-cranial-nerve.

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 § 4.123 and § 4.124 XML for this date print the neuritis and neuralgia paragraphs and do not print a Federal Register source note.

The rating criteria at each level

8409 Neuralgia — the row under the ninth cranial nerve

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Neuralgia.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Neuralgia.

8209 Paralysis of the ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve — the scale § 4.124 names

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Complete

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete, severe

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete, moderate

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
30	Complete
20	Incomplete, severe
10	Incomplete, moderate

DC 8409 prints the word “Neuralgia.” and no number. The percentages above are the DC 8209 column. There is no Mild line and no Major or Minor column.

The DC 8209 note: Dependent upon relative loss of ordinary sensation in mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils.

The Diseases of the Cranial Nerves block says: Disability from lesions of peripheral portions of first, second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth nerves will be rated under the Organs of Special Sense. The ratings for the cranial nerves are for unilateral involvement; when bilateral, combine but without the bilateral factor.

38 CFR § 4.124 says: “Neuralgia, cranial or peripheral, characterized usually by a dull and intermittent pain, of typical distribution so as to identify the nerve, is to be rated on the same scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. See nerve involved for diagnostic code number and rating. Tic douloureux, or trifacial neuralgia, may be rated up to complete paralysis of the affected nerve.” On the DC 8209 scale, incomplete moderate is 10. That is the neuralgia maximum. Complete is 30 and incomplete severe is 20. Both are above that maximum. The tic douloureux sentence is not the ninth nerve. DC 8209 is the paralysis row. DC 8309 prints “Neuritis.” 38 CFR § 4.123 caps that neuritis at severe incomplete paralysis when the organic changes it names are present. Severe on this scale is 20. 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. 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 cranial-nerve sentence says ratings are for unilateral involvement, and when bilateral, combine but without the bilateral factor. The ninth nerve is not in the special-sense list. 38 CFR § 4.31 says that 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. DC 8209’s lowest printed line is incomplete, moderate, at 10.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “glossopharyngeal” or “8409.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Other organic diseases of the nervous system.” That family name is not assigned to DC 8409.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.124, Diagnostic Code 8409, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Moderate is the cap

Section 4.124’s maximum for neuralgia is moderate incomplete paralysis. DC 8209 prints “Incomplete, moderate” as 10. “Incomplete, severe” is 20. Complete is 30.

No mild line

The DC 8209 scale prints complete, incomplete severe, and incomplete moderate. It does not print Mild. The wholly-sensory sentence about mild or moderate is in the peripheral-nerve block, not in this cranial-nerve block.

The sensation note

The DC 8209 note says the evaluation is dependent upon relative loss of ordinary sensation in mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils. That note is not reprinted on the DC 8409 row.

Evidence that speaks to each level

The DC 8409 row

What the rater needs to see. Neuralgia of the ninth, glossopharyngeal, cranial nerve, of typical distribution so as to identify the nerve.

Where that usually lives. The neurological examination that identifies this nerve.

Incomplete, moderate — 10

What the rater needs to see. The moderate incomplete line. Section 4.124 stops neuralgia at that line.

Where that usually lives. The same examination, including the mucous-membrane sensation the DC 8209 note names. Complete, 30, and incomplete severe, 20, are DC 8209 paralysis lines above the neuralgia maximum.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The DC 8409 row	Neuralgia of the ninth, glossopharyngeal, cranial nerve, of typical distribution so as to identify the nerve.	The neurological examination that identifies this nerve.
Incomplete, moderate — 10	The moderate incomplete line. Section 4.124 stops neuralgia at that line.	The same examination, including the mucous-membrane sensation the DC 8209 note names. Complete, 30, and incomplete severe, 20, are DC 8209 paralysis lines above the neuralgia maximum.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Cranial Nerve Conditions” under Neurological. The file is Cranial Nerve Conditions.

The exam form

DC 8409 prints no percentage. Section 4.124 and DC 8209 are the scale. This page does not say the form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Paralysis of this nerve is DC 8209.

That row prints 30, 20, and 10. Neuritis is DC 8309 and uses § 4.123. Neuralgia stops at moderate incomplete paralysis. On this scale that line is 10.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “glossopharyngeal” or “8409.” “Other organic diseases of the nervous system” is not assigned to DC 8409.

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 neuralgia of the ninth cranial nerve?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8409 prints “Neuralgia.” and no percentage. Section 4.124 caps that neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. On Diagnostic Code 8209, incomplete moderate is 10 percent. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does a bilateral ninth-nerve rating use the bilateral factor?

The cranial-nerve sentence says that when involvement is bilateral, combine but without the bilateral factor.

FAQ

How does VA rate ninth-cranial neuralgia under DC 8409?

The DC 8409 row prints “Neuralgia.” and no percentage. Section 4.124 rates neuralgia on the DC 8209 scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. On that scale incomplete moderate is 10 percent. Education only.

Is the 30 percent complete line a neuralgia rating?

That 30 percent line is the complete paralysis cell on DC 8209. Section 4.124 sets the neuralgia maximum at moderate incomplete paralysis. Complete, and incomplete severe at 20, are above that maximum.

What sensation does the DC 8209 note name?

Relative loss of ordinary sensation in mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils. The note ends with a period.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8409 or DC 8209, and whether the evaluation stopped at moderate.
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 8409 • 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.