38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Posterior tibial nerve, paralysis — VA Diagnostic Code 8525

Peripheral nerves

Diagnostic code

8525

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists the posterior tibial nerve under Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves. Diagnostic Code 8525 is “Paralysis of:” Complete is 30. Incomplete severe is 20. Incomplete moderate is 10. Incomplete mild is 10. The table uses one rating column for this nerve. DC 8625 prints “Neuritis.” and DC 8725 prints “Neuralgia.” with no percentage in the rating cell. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Posterior tibial nerve, paralysis” at 8525.

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 date print the neuritis and neuralgia paragraphs and do not print a Federal Register source note.

The rating criteria at each level

8525 Posterior tibial nerve — paralysis

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Complete; paralysis of all muscles of sole of foot, frequently with painful paralysis of a causalgic nature; toes cannot be flexed; adduction is weakened; plantar flexion is impaired

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete: Severe

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete: Moderate

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete: Mild

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
30	Complete; paralysis of all muscles of sole of foot, frequently with painful paralysis of a causalgic nature; toes cannot be flexed; adduction is weakened; plantar flexion is impaired
20	Incomplete: Severe
10	Incomplete: Moderate
10	Incomplete: Mild

8625 and 8725

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). 8625 Neuritis.

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). 8725 Neuralgia.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	8625 Neuritis.
—	8725 Neuralgia.

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.

The complete line spells “causalgic.” Moderate and mild each print 10. The schedule does not print a Major column and a Minor column on this nerve.

38 CFR § 4.123 says neuritis characterized by loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain, at times excruciating, is rated on the scale for the nerve involved, with a maximum equal to severe, incomplete paralysis. The maximum for neuritis not characterized by the organic changes referred to in that section is moderate, or, with sciatic nerve involvement, moderately severe. DC 8525 is not the sciatic nerve. Severe on this code is 20. Moderate is 10. DC 8625 is the neuritis line.

38 CFR § 4.124 says neuralgia is rated on the same scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. Moderate on DC 8525 is 10, and mild is also 10. DC 8725 is the neuralgia line. 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.

The code prints no 0 percent line. 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. The peripheral-nerve sentence says bilateral involvement is combined with the bilateral factor. 38 CFR § 4.26 is that factor.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8525, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

A different nerve from the internal popliteal

DC 8524 is “Internal popliteal nerve (tibial).” Its complete line is 40 and includes plantar flexion lost, frank adduction of the foot impossible, and no muscle in the sole can move. DC 8525 is the posterior tibial nerve. Its complete line is 30, and it says toes cannot be flexed, adduction is weakened, and plantar flexion is impaired.

Wholly sensory stops at moderate, and both are 10

The peripheral-nerve paragraph says wholly sensory involvement should be rated mild, or at most moderate. On DC 8525, mild is 10 and moderate is 10.

Footdrop in § 4.63 names a different nerve

38 CFR § 4.63(b) says complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal) and consequent footdrop, with the organic changes that paragraph names, will be taken as loss of use of the foot. That sentence names the external popliteal nerve. DC 8521 is that nerve. It does not name the posterior tibial nerve.

Evidence that speaks to each level

30, 20, or 10

What the rater needs to see. Complete paralysis as the 30 percent line describes it, or incomplete paralysis at severe, moderate, or mild. Moderate and mild are both 10.

Where that usually lives. The nerve examination, including whether the findings are wholly sensory.

Neuritis or neuralgia

What the rater needs to see. DC 8625 or DC 8725, using the maximum § 4.123 or § 4.124 states: severe incomplete paralysis for neuritis with the organic changes that section names, otherwise moderate; moderate incomplete paralysis for neuralgia.

Where that usually lives. The same examination. The rating cells for 8625 and 8725 are empty.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
30, 20, or 10	Complete paralysis as the 30 percent line describes it, or incomplete paralysis at severe, moderate, or mild. Moderate and mild are both 10.	The nerve examination, including whether the findings are wholly sensory.
Neuritis or neuralgia	DC 8625 or DC 8725, using the maximum § 4.123 or § 4.124 states: severe incomplete paralysis for neuritis with the organic changes that section names, otherwise moderate; moderate incomplete paralysis for neuralgia.	The same examination. The rating cells for 8625 and 8725 are empty.

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

The exam form

DC 8525 prints 30, 20, 10, and 10. DC 8625 and DC 8725 print the words neuritis and neuralgia and no percentage. This page does not say the form replaces those rows.

Related codes and how they interact

Loss of use of the foot is DC 5167.

DC 5167 is foot, loss of use of, at 40, with footnote 2. Section 4.63(b) names the external popliteal nerve, not DC 8525, as the paralysis that will be taken as loss of use of the foot.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “posterior tibial” or “8525.” It lists “Other organic diseases of the nervous system” without a diagnostic code. That family row stays without a code.

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 posterior tibial nerve paralysis?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8525 is 30 percent for complete paralysis, 20 for severe incomplete paralysis, and 10 for moderate or mild incomplete paralysis. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

How are neuritis and neuralgia of this nerve rated?

DC 8625 and DC 8725 print “Neuritis.” and “Neuralgia.” with no percentage. Section 4.123 caps neuritis at severe incomplete paralysis when the organic changes it names are present, and otherwise at moderate. Section 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. On this nerve, severe is 20 and moderate is 10.

FAQ

What percentages does DC 8525 print?

Complete paralysis is 30 percent. Incomplete severe is 20. Incomplete moderate is 10. Incomplete mild is 10. The complete line includes paralysis of all muscles of the sole of the foot, frequently with painful paralysis of a causalgic nature. Education only.

Why are moderate and mild the same number?

The 2026-10-01 table prints 10 for moderate and 10 for mild. The wholly sensory sentence still says mild, or at most moderate. Both of those words are 10 on this code.

Is this the tibial nerve at DC 8524?

DC 8524 is the internal popliteal nerve (tibial). Its complete rating is 40. DC 8525 is the posterior tibial nerve. Its complete rating is 30. The complete sentences are not the same.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8525, 8625, or 8725, and whether the findings were complete, severe, moderate, or mild.
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 8525 • va.gov

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