The ulnar nerve, paralysis of — VA Diagnostic Code 8516

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 § 4.123 rates neuritis characterized by loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain, at times excruciating, on the scale for the nerve involved, with a maximum equal to severe, incomplete, paralysis. Neuritis not characterized by the organic changes that section names is capped at moderate, or, with sciatic nerve involvement, at moderately severe, incomplete paralysis. The sciatic clause is not the ulnar nerve. On the DC 8516 scale, severe is 40 major and 30 minor, and moderate is 30 major and 20 minor. 38 CFR § 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. The complete-paralysis exception in § 4.124 is tic douloureux, or trifacial neuralgia. It 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 8516’s lowest printed line is mild, 10 and 10.

DC 8520 is the sciatic nerve. Its public page is the radiculopathy guide. DC 8515 is the median nerve. Its public page is the carpal-tunnel guide. The next heading after the ulnar block is “Musculocutaneous nerve,” Diagnostic Code 8517. Its complete line is a different sentence.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8516, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.