38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a

Neuritis, external popliteal (common peroneal) nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8621

Peripheral nerves

Diagnostic code

8621

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38 CFR § 4.124a lists “External popliteal nerve (common peroneal)” and then Diagnostic Code 8621 as “Neuritis.” The row prints no percentage. Section 4.123 says neuritis is rated on the scale for the nerve involved. The paralysis scale for this nerve is DC 8521. That scale has one Rating column. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Neuritis, external popliteal (common peroneal) nerve.” The rating row itself is only the word “Neuritis.”

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 § 4.31 source note prints 58 FR 52018, Oct. 6, 1993. The § 4.69 source note prints 62 FR 30239, June 3, 1997. The § 4.63 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 43 FR 45349, Oct. 2, 1978.

The rating criteria at each level

8621 Neuritis — the row under the external popliteal nerve

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Neuritis.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Neuritis.

8521 Paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal) — the scale § 4.123 names

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). Complete; foot drop and slight droop of first phalanges of all toes, cannot dorsiflex the foot, extension (dorsal flexion) of proximal phalanges of toes lost; abduction of foot lost, adduction weakened; anesthesia covers entire dorsum of foot and toes

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Incomplete:

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Severe

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Moderate

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Mild

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
40	Complete; foot drop and slight droop of first phalanges of all toes, cannot dorsiflex the foot, extension (dorsal flexion) of proximal phalanges of toes lost; abduction of foot lost, adduction weakened; anesthesia covers entire dorsum of foot and toes
—	Incomplete:
30	Severe
20	Moderate
10	Mild

DC 8621 prints the word “Neuritis.” and no number. DC 8721 prints “Neuralgia.” and no number. The percentages above are the DC 8521 column. There is no Major or Minor column.

The complete cell spells “cannot” as one word. It says “foot drop and slight droop.” It does not say the foot dangles and drops.

Section 4.63(b) names complete paralysis of this nerve. It prints a comma after “consequent.” The DC 8621 row does not print the word “complete.”

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. DC 8621 is in the peripheral-nerve block. 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 caps neuritis characterized by the organic changes named in that section at severe, incomplete, paralysis. On the DC 8521 scale, severe is 30. Neuritis not characterized by those organic changes is capped at moderate, 20, unless the sciatic-nerve clause applies. The sciatic nerve is DC 8520. Its complete line says the foot dangles and drops, at 80. That clause is not DC 8621. 38 CFR § 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. DC 8721 prints “Neuralgia.” and no percentage. Moderate on this scale is 20. 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 8521’s lowest printed line is mild, 10.

38 CFR § 4.63(b) says complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal) and consequent, footdrop, accompanied by characteristic organic changes including trophic and circulatory disturbances and other concomitants confirmatory of complete paralysis of this nerve, will be taken as loss of use of the foot. The comma after “consequent” is in that paragraph. It names complete paralysis. It does not name DC 8621. DC 5167 is loss of use of the foot. DC 8521 is the paralysis row whose complete cell is the 40 percent line above.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.123, Diagnostic Code 8621, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Severe is 30 on this scale

Section 4.123’s higher neuritis maximum is severe incomplete paralysis when the organic changes it names are present. DC 8521 prints severe as 30. Moderate is 20. Complete is 40, and that line is above the neuritis maximum.

Cannot, and slight droop

The DC 8521 complete cell says “cannot dorsiflex the foot” and “slight droop of first phalanges of all toes.” The sciatic complete cell says the foot dangles and drops. Those sentences are not the same.

The comma in § 4.63(b)

Paragraph (b) says “consequent, footdrop,” with a comma after “consequent.” It takes that complete paralysis, with the organic changes it lists, as loss of use of the foot. The neuritis row does not print that paragraph.

Evidence that speaks to each level

The DC 8621 row

What the rater needs to see. Neuritis of the external popliteal nerve, also called the common peroneal, and whether the organic changes § 4.123 names are present.

Where that usually lives. The neurological examination that identifies this nerve.

Severe — 30, or moderate — 20

What the rater needs to see. The severe incomplete line when those organic changes are present. Otherwise the maximum is moderate, because the sciatic clause is a different nerve.

Where that usually lives. The same examination. Complete, 40, is the DC 8521 paralysis line and is above the neuritis maximum.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The DC 8621 row	Neuritis of the external popliteal nerve, also called the common peroneal, and whether the organic changes § 4.123 names are present.	The neurological examination that identifies this nerve.
Severe — 30, or moderate — 20	The severe incomplete line when those organic changes are present. Otherwise the maximum is moderate, because the sciatic clause is a different nerve.	The same examination. Complete, 40, is the DC 8521 paralysis line and is above the neuritis maximum.

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

The exam form

DC 8621 prints no percentage. Section 4.123 and DC 8521 are the scale. This page does not say the form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Paralysis of this nerve is DC 8521.

That row prints 40, 30, 20, and 10. DC 8721 is neuralgia and stops at the moderate line under § 4.124. Section 4.63(b) is the loss-of-use sentence for complete paralysis of this nerve.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “peroneal” or “popliteal.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Other organic diseases of the nervous system.” That family name is not assigned to DC 8621.

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 neuritis of the external popliteal nerve?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8621 prints “Neuritis.” and no percentage. Section 4.123 caps that neuritis at severe incomplete paralysis when the organic changes it names are present. On Diagnostic Code 8521, severe is 30 percent. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does this nerve use major and minor ratings?

The external popliteal block does not. It has one Rating column. Foot drop on the sciatic complete line is a different sentence, at 80.

FAQ

How does VA rate common-peroneal neuritis under DC 8621?

The DC 8621 row prints no percentage. Section 4.123 rates neuritis on the DC 8521 scale. When the organic changes that section names are present, the maximum is severe, 30 percent. Otherwise the maximum is moderate, 20 percent. The sciatic moderately-severe clause is not this nerve. Education only.

Is the 40 percent complete line a neuritis rating?

That 40 percent line is the complete paralysis cell on DC 8521. Section 4.123 sets the neuritis maximum at severe incomplete paralysis when the named organic changes are present. Complete is above that maximum.

What does § 4.63(b) say about this nerve?

It says complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve and consequent, footdrop, with the organic changes it lists, will be taken as loss of use of the foot. The comma after “consequent” is in the paragraph. It does not name DC 8621.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 8621 or DC 8521, and whether the evaluation stopped at severe or at moderate.
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 8621 • 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.