Neuritis, middle radicular group — VA Diagnostic Code 8611

The Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves preface 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. 38 CFR § 4.69 determines the dominant hand. It does not use the words “Major” and “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.

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 commas in “severe, incomplete, paralysis” are in that sentence. Neuritis not characterized by the organic changes referred to in that section is capped at moderate, or, with sciatic nerve involvement, at moderately severe, incomplete paralysis. The second sentence does not put a comma between “incomplete” and “paralysis.” The sciatic clause is not the middle radicular group. On DC 8511, severe is 50 major and 40 minor. Moderate is 40 and 30. 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.

38 CFR § 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. DC 8711 is neuralgia of this group. That maximum is the moderate line, 40 and 30, and it is not the neuritis maximum. DC 8510 is the upper radicular group. Its complete line is also 70 and 60, and the complete sentence is “Complete; all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected.” DC 8512 is the lower radicular group. Its complete line names the intrinsic muscles of the hand and is also 70 and 60. DC 8610 is neuritis of the upper radicular group. DC 8513 is all radicular groups. Its complete cell is the word “Complete,” at 90 major and 80 minor.

A note printed after DC 8719, before the lower-extremity table, says: “Combined nerve injuries should be rated by reference to the major involvement, or if sufficient in extent, consider radicular group ratings.” That note is not printed under DC 8611.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.123, Diagnostic Code 8611, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.