Neuralgia, external popliteal nerve (common peroneal) — VA Diagnostic Code 8721

38 CFR § 4.124 says: “Neuralgia, cranial or peripheral, 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. See nerve involved for diagnostic code number and rating. Tic douloureux, or trifacial neuralgia, may be rated up to complete paralysis of the affected nerve.” On the DC 8521 scale, moderate is 20. Severe is 30. Complete is 40. Those two lines are above the neuralgia maximum. The tic douloureux sentence is not this nerve. 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 § 4.31 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, at 10.

38 CFR § 4.123 caps neuritis at severe, incomplete, paralysis when the organic changes it names are present, and otherwise at moderate unless the sciatic clause applies. This nerve is not the sciatic nerve. On this scale severe is 30 and moderate is 20. DC 8621 is neuritis of the external popliteal nerve. DC 8521 is the paralysis row.

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. The paragraph spells “footdrop” as one word. The DC 8521 complete cell spells “foot drop” as two words. Paragraph (b) does not name DC 8721. It does not state a payment amount. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Appendix B indexes DC 8521 as “External popliteal nerve (common peroneal), paralysis.” It indexes DC 8621 as “Neuritis, external popliteal (common peroneal) nerve,” with the parenthetical before the word “nerve.” It indexes DC 8721 as “Neuralgia, external popliteal nerve (common peroneal),” with “nerve” before the parenthetical. The table heading matches the 8721 word order.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “peroneal.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Other organic diseases of the nervous system.” That family name is not assigned to DC 8721. 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.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.124, Diagnostic Code 8721, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The § 4.63 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 43 FR 45349, Oct. 2, 1978.