Paralysis of the ulnar nerve
The VA rates Paralysis of the ulnar nerve under Diagnostic Code 8516, with separate ratings for the dominant and non-dominant arm: 10% to 60% for the dominant arm and 10% to 50% for the non-dominant arm. The applicable level depends on the full criteria below and the evidence for the condition.
Rating schedule · DC 8516 at a glance
- Dominant arm
- 10% to 60%
- Non-dominant arm
- 10% to 50%
- 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 ulnar nerve?
DC 8516 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 8516
- 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 ulnar nerve 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.
- 8511Paralysis of the middle radicular group
- 8512Paralysis of the lower radicular group
- 8513Paralysis of all radicular groups
- 8514Paralysis of the musculospiral nerve (radial nerve)
- 8515Paralysis of the median nerve
- 8517Paralysis of the musculocutaneous nerve
- 8518Paralysis of the circumflex nerve
- 8519Paralysis of the long thoracic nerve
- 8520Paralysis of the sciatic nerve
- 8521Paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal)
What to do with a Paralysis of the ulnar nerve rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
On this site
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- 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 ulnar nerve VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Paralysis of the ulnar nerve?
Dominant arm: 10% to 60%; non-dominant arm: 10% to 50%, under DC 8516, 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 ulnar nerve?
The VA rates Paralysis of the ulnar nerve under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8516, 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 10% and a 60% dominant-arm rating for Paralysis of the ulnar nerve?
These figures are the dominant-arm column of DC 8516. A 10% dominant-arm rating is published for: Incomplete: Mild. A 60% dominant-arm rating is published for: Complete; the “griffin claw” deformity, due to flexor contraction of ring and little fingers, atrophy very marked in dorsal interspace and thenar and hypothenar eminences; loss of extension of ring and little fingers cannot spread the fingers (or reverse), cannot adduct the thumb; flexion of wrist weakened. The non-dominant arm is rated on its own column, 10% to 50%.
Can Paralysis of the ulnar nerve qualify for TDIU?
Using the dominant-arm maximum: DC 8516 publishes up to 60% for the dominant arm and up to 50% for the non-dominant arm. A 60% 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. The non-dominant arm maximum of 50% does not meet that threshold on its own.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Paralysis of the ulnar nerve?
The key evidence for Paralysis of the ulnar nerve 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 ulnar nerve?
The C&P examiner uses a Neurological Conditions DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 8516 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.
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