38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

All radicular groups, paralysis — VA Diagnostic Code 8513

Peripheral nerves

Diagnostic code

8513

Start free worksheet Get the Founding Pass — $9.99/month

38 CFR § 4.124a lists “All radicular groups” and then Diagnostic Code 8513, “Paralysis of:” The table uses Major and Minor columns. Complete is 90 major and 80 minor. The complete line does not add a description after the word “Complete.” Appendix B to Part 4 says “All radicular groups, paralysis.”

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 § 4.123 and § 4.124 XML for this version date do not print a Federal Register source note.

The rating criteria at each level

8513 Paralysis of all radicular groups — Major and Minor

Rating %: 90 major, 80 minor

Criteria (verbatim). Complete

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete:

Rating %: 70 major, 60 minor

Criteria (verbatim). Severe

Rating %: 40 major, 30 minor

Criteria (verbatim). Moderate

Rating %: 20 major, 20 minor

Criteria (verbatim). Mild

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
90 major, 80 minor	Complete
—	Incomplete:
70 major, 60 minor	Severe
40 major, 30 minor	Moderate
20 major, 20 minor	Mild

8613 Neuritis. 8713 Neuralgia. Those two rows sit under DC 8513 and do not print a percentage.

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 same block says the ratings for the peripheral nerves are for unilateral involvement; when bilateral, combine with application of the bilateral factor.

38 CFR § 4.123 rates neuritis on the scale for the nerve involved, with a maximum equal to severe, incomplete paralysis, when the neuritis is characterized by loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain, at times excruciating. Otherwise the maximum is moderate, or with sciatic nerve involvement, moderately severe. 38 CFR § 4.124 rates neuralgia on the same scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. Tic douloureux, or trifacial neuralgia, may be rated up to complete paralysis of the affected nerve. That complete-paralysis exception names the trigeminal nerve. It does not name all radicular groups. On the DC 8513 scale, severe is 70 major and 60 minor. Moderate is 40 major and 30 minor.

The cranial-nerve sentence in the same section says bilateral cranial-nerve ratings combine without the bilateral factor. The peripheral-nerve sentence says to combine with application of the bilateral factor. 38 CFR § 4.26 is the bilateral factor. DC 8513 is in the peripheral-nerve block. 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 8513’s lowest printed line is mild, 20 major and 20 minor. 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.

DC 8510 is the upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals). Its complete line describes lost or severely affected shoulder and elbow movements. That description is not printed on DC 8513. The sciatic nerve is DC 8520. The § 4.123 sciatic clause is about that nerve’s neuritis scale, not a second line of DC 8513.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8513, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Complete is one word

The complete row’s criteria cell is “Complete.” The upper radicular group’s complete row has a longer description. DC 8513 does not copy that description.

Neuritis and neuralgia do not print percentages

8613 and 8713 print “Neuritis.” and “Neuralgia.” Section 4.123 and § 4.124 say which level on the paralysis scale is the maximum. They are not extra rows of percentages under DC 8513.

“Varied level”

The incomplete-paralysis sentence says “whether due to varied level of the nerve lesion or to partial regeneration.” It also says wholly sensory involvement should be rated mild, or at most moderate.

Evidence that speaks to each level

Complete, severe, moderate, or mild

What the rater needs to see. The findings the schedule places on the DC 8513 scale, and whether the record is describing the major or the minor side. The table uses those two columns.

Where that usually lives. The peripheral-nerve examination and the treatment records that name the radicular groups.

One side or both

What the rater needs to see. The peripheral-nerve sentence says the ratings are for unilateral involvement, and that bilateral involvement is combined with the bilateral factor.

Where that usually lives. The examination of each side, read against § 4.26.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Complete, severe, moderate, or mild	The findings the schedule places on the DC 8513 scale, and whether the record is describing the major or the minor side. The table uses those two columns.	The peripheral-nerve examination and the treatment records that name the radicular groups.
One side or both	The peripheral-nerve sentence says the ratings are for unilateral involvement, and that bilateral involvement is combined with the bilateral factor.	The examination of each side, read against § 4.26.

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

The exam form

DC 8513 prints major and minor levels. This page does not say the form replaces those levels.

Related codes and how they interact

Upper radicular group is a different code.

DC 8510 names the fifth and sixth cervicals and describes the complete picture. DC 8513’s heading is “All radicular groups,” and its complete cell is the word “Complete.”

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “radicular.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Other organic diseases of the nervous system.” That family name has no diagnostic code in the registry. It is not assigned to DC 8513.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for paralysis of all radicular groups?

Diagnostic Code 8513 in 38 CFR § 4.124a uses Major and Minor columns: 90 and 80 for complete, 70 and 60 for severe, 40 and 30 for moderate, and 20 and 20 for mild. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does the bilateral factor apply?

The peripheral-nerve sentence says the ratings are for unilateral involvement and, when bilateral, to combine with application of the bilateral factor. The cranial-nerve sentence in the same section says to combine without the bilateral factor. DC 8513 is in the peripheral-nerve block.

FAQ

What schedule levels does DC 8513 print for complete paralysis?

DC 8513 prints 90 in the Major column and 80 in the Minor column for “Complete.” Severe is 70 and 60. Moderate is 40 and 30. Mild is 20 and 20. Education only. This page does not state a payment amount.

Why is there no description next to “Complete”?

The criteria cell is the word “Complete.” DC 8510, the upper radicular group, is the row that describes shoulder and elbow movements. That sentence is not on DC 8513.

Where do neuritis and neuralgia of all radicular groups get a percentage?

8613 and 8713 do not print one. Section 4.123 caps the named neuritis picture at severe incomplete paralysis, and other neuritis at moderate unless the sciatic sentence applies. Section 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. On this scale those levels are the severe and moderate rows above.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8513, the major or minor column, and any 8613 or 8713 entry.
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 nerve codes are on the peripheral-nerve 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 Peripheral nerves, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Peripheral nerves codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 8513 • 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.