Middle radicular group, paralysis — VA Diagnostic Code 8511

The Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves block says: The term “incomplete paralysis,” with this and other peripheral nerve injuries, indicates a degree of lost or impaired function substantially less than the type picture for complete paralysis given with each nerve, whether due to varied level of the nerve lesion or to partial regeneration. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should be for the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. The ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateral involvement; when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor. That sentence uses “varied level.” It says wholly sensory involvement should be mild, or at most moderate. 38 CFR § 4.26 is the bilateral factor the peripheral-nerve sentence names. 38 CFR § 4.69 says handedness for the purpose of a dominant rating will be determined by the evidence of record, or by testing on VA examination. Only one hand shall be considered dominant. Section 4.69 does not use the words “Major” and “Minor.” Those are the column headings. 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.

38 CFR § 4.123 says: “Neuritis, cranial or peripheral, characterized by loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain, at times excruciating, is to be rated on the scale provided for injury of the nerve involved, with a maximum equal to severe, incomplete, paralysis. See nerve involved for diagnostic code number and rating. The maximum rating which may be assigned for neuritis not characterized by organic changes referred to in this section will be that for moderate, or with sciatic nerve involvement, for moderately severe, incomplete paralysis.” The sciatic clause is not the middle radicular group. On the DC 8511 scale, severe is 50 major and 40 minor, and moderate is 40 major and 30 minor. 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.” The tic douloureux sentence is not this nerve. 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 8511’s lowest printed line is mild, 20 and 20.

DC 8510 is the upper radicular group. Its complete cell is also 70 and 60, and it says all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected. That sentence is not the DC 8511 complete cell.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “radicular.” DC 8511 is a rating-schedule line, not a § 3.309 name. “Other organic diseases of the nervous system” and “Peripheral neuropathy except where directly related to infectious causes” are family rows with no diagnostic code. This page does not assign DC 8511 to those names.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8511, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.