38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.124a
Neuralgia, internal saphenous nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8727
Peripheral nerves
Diagnostic code
8727
38 CFR § 4.124a lists “Internal saphenous nerve,” then Diagnostic Code 8727 as “Neuralgia.” The row prints no percentage. Section 4.124 rates neuralgia on the same scale, with a maximum equal to moderate incomplete paralysis. The paralysis scale is DC 8527. Severe to complete is 10. Mild to moderate is 0. The lower line uses the word “to,” not “or.” Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Neuralgia, internal saphenous nerve.” The catalog slug is dc-8727-neuralgia-internal-saphenous-nerve.
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was last amended on 2026-08-27. On 2026-10-05 the titles list reports up to date as of 2026-10-02. Section 4.124a source note: 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 rating criteria at each level
8727 Neuralgia — the row under the internal saphenous nerve
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Neuralgia.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Neuralgia. |
8527 Paralysis of the internal saphenous nerve — the scale § 4.124 names
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Severe to complete
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Mild to moderate
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 10 | Severe to complete |
| 0 | Mild to moderate |
DC 8727 prints the word “Neuralgia.” and no number. The percentages above are the DC 8527 column. There is no Major or Minor column and no separate “Incomplete:” row.
The lower line says “Mild to moderate.” The word is “to.” A neighboring nerve uses “or” on its lower line. This page does not change either word.
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.
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.” The DC 8527 line that includes the word moderate is “Mild to moderate,” at 0. “Severe to complete” is 10 and is above a moderate maximum. The tic douloureux sentence is not this nerve. DC 8527 is the paralysis row. 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 § 4.14 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.
The peripheral-nerve sentence says wholly sensory involvement should be mild, or at most moderate. Both of those words are on the 0 line of this scale. Bilateral ratings combine with application of the bilateral factor. 38 CFR § 4.26 is the bilateral factor. The schedule already prints 0 on the mild-to-moderate line.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “saphenous” or “8727.” This page does not add DC 8727 to a presumptive row.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a and 38 CFR § 4.124, Diagnostic Code 8727, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Mild to moderate is 0
That is the lower paralysis line. Section 4.124’s neuralgia maximum is moderate incomplete paralysis. The word moderate on this scale is on the 0 line.
Severe to complete is 10
That upper line is the DC 8527 paralysis cell. It is above moderate. The DC 8727 row does not print 10 by itself.
The word is to
DC 8527 says “Mild to moderate.” It does not say “Mild or moderate.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
The DC 8727 row
What the rater needs to see. Neuralgia of the internal saphenous nerve, of typical distribution so as to identify the nerve.
Where that usually lives. The neurological examination that identifies this nerve.
Mild to moderate — 0
What the rater needs to see. The line that includes moderate. Section 4.124 stops neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis.
Where that usually lives. The same examination. Severe to complete, 10, is the DC 8527 paralysis line above that maximum.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Peripheral Nerves” under Neurological. The file is Peripheral Nerves.
The exam form
DC 8727 prints no percentage. Section 4.124 and DC 8527 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 8527.
That row prints “Severe to complete” at 10 and “Mild to moderate” at 0. Neuralgia uses the same scale and stops at moderate.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “saphenous” or “8727.” This page does not add DC 8727 to a presumptive row.
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 neuralgia of the internal saphenous nerve?
Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8727 prints “Neuralgia.” and no percentage. Section 4.124 caps that neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. Diagnostic Code 8527 prints “Mild to moderate” at 0 percent and “Severe to complete” at 10 percent. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does this nerve have a major column?
No. DC 8527 has one rating column.
FAQ
How does VA rate internal-saphenous neuralgia under DC 8727?
The DC 8727 row prints “Neuralgia.” and no percentage. Section 4.124 caps neuralgia at moderate incomplete paralysis. On DC 8527 the line that says moderate is “Mild to moderate,” at 0 percent. Education only.
Does the 10 percent line belong to neuralgia?
“Severe to complete” at 10 is the DC 8527 paralysis line. Severe and complete are above the moderate maximum in § 4.124.
Is the lower line “mild or moderate”?
No. DC 8527 prints “Mild to moderate.” The conjunction is “to.”
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 8727 or DC 8527, and whether it used the mild-to-moderate line or the severe-to-complete line.
- 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
- DC 8714Neuralgia, musculospiral nerve (radial)
- DC 8715Neuralgia, median nerve
- DC 8716Neuralgia, ulnar nerve
- DC 8717Neuralgia, musculocutaneous nerve
- DC 8718Neuralgia, circumflex nerve
- DC 8719Neuralgia, long thoracic nerve
- DC 8720Neuralgia, sciatic nerve
- DC 8721Neuralgia, external popliteal nerve (common peroneal)
- DC 8722Neuralgia, musculocutaneous nerve (superficial peroneal)
- DC 8723Neuralgia, anterior tibial nerve (deep peroneal)
- DC 8724Neuralgia, internal popliteal nerve (tibial)
- DC 8725Neuralgia, posterior tibial nerve
- DC 8726Neuralgia, anterior crural nerve (femoral)
- DC 8728Neuralgia, obturator nerve
- DC 8729Neuralgia, external cutaneous nerve of thigh
- DC 8730Neuralgia, ilio-inguinal nerve
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 8727 • va.gov
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
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.