VA Diagnostic Code 5244Traumatic paralysis, complete:
Rated under § 4.71a. No rating levels have been extracted for this code yet — use the official source.
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Summary
Paraplegia: Rate under diagnostic code 5110. Quadriplegia: Rate separately under diagnostic codes 5109 and 5110 and combine evaluations in accordance with § 4.25.
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No rating levels extracted yet
This code has no itemised criteria in our copy of the schedule. Use the official source link for the controlling text.
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note: If traumatic paralysis does not cause loss of use of both hands or both feet, it is incomplete paralysis. Evaluate residuals of incomplete traumatic paralysis under the appropriate diagnostic code (e.g., § 4.124a, Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves).
Traumatic Paralysis, Complete (VA Diagnostic Code 5244)
Musculoskeletal System · 38 CFR § 4.71a
What This Condition Is
Diagnostic Code 5244 addresses complete traumatic paralysis — paralysis resulting from traumatic injury. Under the VA rating schedule, this condition is not assigned a single standalone percentage. Instead, the VA directs how it should be rated depending on the type of paralysis present.
How the VA Rates It
Rather than using a fixed rating table, Diagnostic Code 5244 tells the VA which other diagnostic codes to apply:
- Paraplegia: Rate under diagnostic code 5110.
- Quadriplegia: Rate separately under diagnostic codes 5109 and 5110, then combine the evaluations in accordance with § 4.25.
This means the final evaluation is built from the applicable diagnostic codes rather than from a percentage listed directly under 5244.
What the VA Looks For
The VA distinguishes between complete and incomplete traumatic paralysis:
- Complete traumatic paralysis is what Diagnostic Code 5244 addresses directly.
- Incomplete paralysis: If the traumatic paralysis does not cause loss of use of both hands or both feet, it is considered incomplete. In that case, the residuals of incomplete traumatic paralysis are evaluated under the appropriate diagnostic code — for example, under § 4.124a, Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves.
In short, the VA looks at:
- Whether the paralysis is complete or incomplete.
- Whether there is loss of use of both hands or both feet.
- Which specific diagnostic codes apply to the presentation (paraplegia vs. quadriplegia, or peripheral nerve residuals for incomplete paralysis).
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule entry for Diagnostic Code 5244 under 38 CFR § 4.71a. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.71a, diagnostic code 5244. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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