Neuralgia, musculocutaneous nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8717

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 8517 scale, moderate is 10 major and 10 minor. Severe is 20 and 20. Complete is 30 and 20. 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 8717 is the musculocutaneous nerve. 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 this nerve. DC 8617 is neuritis of the musculocutaneous nerve. DC 8517 is the paralysis scale. DC 8718 is neuralgia of the circumflex nerve. Its complete line is a different sentence, at 50 major and 40 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 8717. The lower-extremity heading “Musculocutaneous nerve (superficial peroneal)” is DC 8522. Its complete line is “eversion of foot weakened,” at 30, and that block does not use Major and Minor columns. DC 8722 is neuralgia of that foot nerve.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.124, Diagnostic Code 8717, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.