Neuralgia, lower radicular group — VA Diagnostic Code 8712

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 § 4.124 says neuralgia, characterized usually by a dull and intermittent pain, of typical distribution so as to identify the nerve, is to be rated on the same scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. On the DC 8512 scale, moderate is 40 major and 30 minor. Severe is 50 and 40. Complete is 70 and 60. Those two lines are above the neuralgia maximum. The same section says: “Tic douloureux, or trifacial neuralgia, may be rated up to complete paralysis of the affected nerve.” DC 8712 is the lower radicular group. It is not that sentence.

38 CFR § 4.123 is the neuritis rule. Its maximum for neuritis characterized by the organic changes named in that section is severe, incomplete paralysis. Neuritis not characterized by those organic changes is capped at moderate, or, with sciatic nerve involvement, at moderately severe. The sciatic clause is not the lower radicular group. DC 8612 is neuritis of this group. DC 8510 is the upper radicular group. Its complete line is also 70 and 60, and the complete sentence is different: shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected. 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 8512’s lowest printed line is mild, 20 and 20.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.124, Diagnostic Code 8712, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.