38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Anterior crural nerve (femoral), paralysis of — VA Diagnostic Code 8526

Peripheral nerves

Diagnostic code

8526

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists the anterior crural nerve (femoral) under Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves. Diagnostic Code 8526 is paralysis of that nerve. Complete paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles is 40 percent. VA’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Benefits Report lists “Paralysis of the anterior crural nerve” among neurological disabilities of all compensation recipients (394,990). The report is on [benefits.va.gov](https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2024-abr.pdf). The sciatic nerve is a different code, DC 8520.

Reviewed 2026-10-03. Text checked against eCFR on 2026-10-05; Title 38 last amended 2026-08-27. On that date the titles list showed Title 38 up to date as of 2026-10-01 (latest issue date 2026-08-27).

The rating criteria at each level

8526 Paralysis of the anterior crural nerve (femoral)

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). Complete; paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete: Severe

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete: Moderate

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete: Mild

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
40	Complete; paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles
30	Incomplete: Severe
20	Incomplete: Moderate
10	Incomplete: Mild

The schedule preface for Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves 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.”

DC 8526 does not print a 0 percent line.

38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a zero percent evaluation when the schedule does not provide one and the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.

The opening of § 4.124a says, with the exceptions noted, disability from the following diseases and their residuals may be rated from 10 percent to 100 percent in proportion to the impairment of motor, sensory, or mental function. It also says that with partial loss of use of one or more extremities from neurological lesions, rate by comparison with the mild, moderate, severe, or complete paralysis of peripheral nerves.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a (Schedule of ratings—neurological conditions and convulsive disorders), Diagnostic Code 8526, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-08-27. Prevalence count: VBA Annual Benefits Report, Fiscal Year 2024.

What the words mean in your records

Complete

The complete line is “paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles,” 40 percent. That is the type picture the incomplete-paralysis sentence uses for this nerve.

Mild, moderate, and severe

The incomplete lines are Severe 30, Moderate 20, and Mild 10. The schedule does not add a further definition of those three words under DC 8526. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the preface says the rating should be for the mild, or at most, the moderate degree.

Neuritis and neuralgia

38 CFR § 4.123 says neuritis 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. The maximum rating which may be assigned for neuritis not characterized by the organic changes referred to in that section will be that for moderate, or with sciatic nerve involvement, for moderately severe, incomplete paralysis. DC 8626 is the neuritis code for this nerve. 38 CFR § 4.124 says neuralgia, characterized usually by a dull and intermittent pain of typical distribution so as to identify the nerve, is rated on the same scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. DC 8726 is the neuralgia code. DC 8526’s severe incomplete line is 30 percent. Its moderate line is 20 percent. The “moderately severe” words in § 4.123 are tied to sciatic nerve involvement. DC 8526 does not print a moderately severe line.

Evidence that speaks to each level

40 — complete

What the rater needs to see. Paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles, the complete type picture.

Where that usually lives. The neurological examination that identifies the femoral nerve and the motor loss.

30 — severe incomplete

What the rater needs to see. Incomplete paralysis that the evidence places at severe: lost or impaired function substantially less than complete paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles.

Where that usually lives. The same examination. Section 4.123 uses loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain when the question is neuritis rather than paralysis.

20 — moderate

What the rater needs to see. The moderate incomplete line. Wholly sensory involvement is rated mild, or at most moderate, under the peripheral-nerve preface.

Where that usually lives. Sensory and motor findings that identify this nerve.

10 — mild

What the rater needs to see. The mild incomplete line.

Where that usually lives. The same findings. Section 4.31 is the path to 0 percent when a compensable line is not met.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
40 — complete	Paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles, the complete type picture.	The neurological examination that identifies the femoral nerve and the motor loss.
30 — severe incomplete	Incomplete paralysis that the evidence places at severe: lost or impaired function substantially less than complete paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles.	The same examination. Section 4.123 uses loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain when the question is neuritis rather than paralysis.
20 — moderate	The moderate incomplete line. Wholly sensory involvement is rated mild, or at most moderate, under the peripheral-nerve preface.	Sensory and motor findings that identify this nerve.
10 — mild	The mild incomplete line.	The same findings. Section 4.31 is the path to 0 percent when a compensable line is not met.

The public DBQ list, checked October 3, 2026, did not show a peripheral-nerve form name in the Neurological heading of that page. This page does not invent a form number. This site’s radiculopathy DBQ guide discusses the sciatic nerve, which is DC 8520, not DC 8526.

The exam form

The regulatory description of incomplete paralysis, and the wholly sensory sentence, are in the Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves preface in § 4.124a.

Neuritis and neuralgia use §§ 4.123 and 4.124. Those sections cap the rating at a level on the paralysis scale. They do not create a new percentage.

Related codes and how they interact

Sciatic nerve and the bilateral factor

DC 8520 is paralysis of the sciatic nerve. Complete: the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost, 80. Incomplete severe, with marked muscular atrophy, 60. Moderately severe, 40. Moderate, 20. Mild, 10. The public page is the radiculopathy guide. DC 8526 is the femoral nerve, with a 40 percent complete line.

The peripheral-nerve preface says the ratings are for unilateral involvement and, when bilateral, to combine with application of the bilateral factor. 38 CFR § 4.26 says the ratings for the disabilities of the right and left sides will be combined as usual, and 10 percent of this value will be added (not combined) before further combinations. Paragraph (c) says the factor is not applicable unless there is partial disability of compensable degree in each of 2 paired extremities, or paired skeletal muscles.

38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that disability from injuries to the muscles, nerves, and joints of an extremity may overlap.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

DC 8526 does not name a secondary condition. 38 CFR § 3.309 does not name the anterior crural nerve or the femoral nerve. A secondary question 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 aggravation and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for paralysis of the anterior crural (femoral) nerve?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8526, complete paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles is 40 percent. Severe incomplete paralysis is 30 percent, moderate is 20 percent, and mild is 10 percent. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

How are neuritis and neuralgia of this nerve capped?

Section 4.123 caps neuritis at severe incomplete paralysis when the organic changes in that section are present, and otherwise at moderate, unless the sentence’s sciatic-nerve clause applies. Section 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. On the DC 8526 scale, severe is 30 percent and moderate is 20 percent.

FAQ

How does VA rate femoral nerve paralysis under DC 8526?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, complete paralysis of the quadriceps extensor muscles is 40 percent. Incomplete paralysis is 30 percent when severe, 20 percent when moderate, and 10 percent when mild. Education only.

Is the femoral nerve the same as the sciatic nerve?

No. DC 8520 is the sciatic nerve. Its complete line is 80 percent. DC 8526 is the anterior crural nerve, also called the femoral nerve. Its complete line is 40 percent.

What if the findings are only sensory?

The peripheral-nerve preface says that when the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should be for the mild, or at most, the moderate degree. For this nerve those lines are 10 and 20 percent.

Where does the 394,990 figure come from?

The Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Benefits Report lists “Paralysis of the anterior crural nerve” with 394,990 among neurological disabilities of all compensation recipients. That count is not a rating.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8526, 8626, or 8726, and whether the findings name the femoral nerve or the sciatic nerve.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the measurements, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. C&P prep (Founding Pass) is a separate worksheet. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other nerve codes are on the peripheral-nerves diagnostic-code index. The sciatic code’s public page is the radiculopathy guide.

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 8526 • va.gov

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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.