Paralysis of the middle radicular group
The VA rates Paralysis of the middle radicular group under Diagnostic Code 8511, with separate ratings for the dominant and non-dominant arm: 20% to 70% for the dominant arm and 20% to 60% for the non-dominant arm. The applicable level depends on the full criteria below and the evidence for the condition.
Rating schedule · DC 8511 at a glance
- Dominant arm
- 20% to 70%
- Non-dominant arm
- 20% to 60%
- CFR section
- § 4.124a
- Body system
- Neurological Conditions
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Major column of the published table
Minor column of the published table
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Paralysis of the middle radicular group?
DC 8511 is rated separately for your dominant arm and your non-dominant arm. 38 CFR § 4.69 decides which arm is dominant.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.124a, eCFR as of .
Notes for DC 8511
- 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.
What other neurological conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Paralysis of the middle radicular group in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 8409Neuralgia of the ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve
- 8410Neuralgia of the tenth (pneumogastric, vagus) cranial nerve
- 8411Neuralgia of the eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve
- 8412Neuralgia of the twelfth (hypoglossal) cranial nerve
- 8510Paralysis of the upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals)
- 8512Paralysis of the lower radicular group
- 8513Paralysis of all radicular groups
- 8514Paralysis of the musculospiral nerve (radial nerve)
- 8515Paralysis of the median nerve
- 8516Paralysis of the ulnar nerve
What to do with a Paralysis of the middle radicular group rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
On this site
Read next
- The VA C&P Exam Explained: Before, During, and AfterA VA C&P exam helps VA decide service connection and your rating. Here is what happens before, during, and after, plus how to request your exam report.
- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
- TDIU: 100 Percent VA Pay Without a 100 Percent RatingTDIU pays the 100% VA compensation rate without a 100% rating. See the percentage paths, the extraschedular route under 38 CFR 4.16(b), and how work affects it.
Common Questions About Paralysis of the middle radicular group VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Paralysis of the middle radicular group?
Dominant arm: 20% to 70%; non-dominant arm: 20% to 60%, under DC 8511, 38 CFR § 4.124a. The applicable column depends on which arm is dominant under 38 CFR § 4.69.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Paralysis of the middle radicular group?
The VA rates Paralysis of the middle radicular group under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8511, published in 38 CFR § 4.124a. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 20% and a 70% dominant-arm rating for Paralysis of the middle radicular group?
These figures are the dominant-arm column of DC 8511. A 20% dominant-arm rating is published for: Incomplete: Mild. A 70% dominant-arm rating is published for: Complete; adduction, abduction and rotation of arm, flexion of elbow, and extension of wrist lost or severely affected. The non-dominant arm is rated on its own column, 20% to 60%.
Can Paralysis of the middle radicular group qualify for TDIU?
Using the dominant-arm maximum: DC 8511 publishes up to 70% for the dominant arm and up to 60% for the non-dominant arm. A 70% rating for one disability meets the single-disability TDIU threshold of 60% (38 CFR § 4.16(a)); if the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, VA pays at the 100% rate without a schedular 100% rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Paralysis of the middle radicular group?
The key evidence for Paralysis of the middle radicular group is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. For neurological conditions, nerve conduction studies, EMG results, and documentation of complete vs incomplete paralysis distinguish the rating tiers. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
What happens at the C&P exam for Paralysis of the middle radicular group?
The C&P examiner uses a Neurological Conditions DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 8511 rating criteria. The examiner tests reflexes, sensation, and motor function. If nerve damage is suspected, EMG or nerve conduction studies may be ordered. Distinguish between complete and incomplete paralysis; the rating difference is significant.
Get a Personalized Rating Analysis
VeteranHQ evaluates your symptoms against the exact 38 CFR criteria, identifies secondary conditions, and shows what evidence you need to support a higher rating.
Discover Your Benefits