VA Diagnostic Code 8209Paralysis of: [Ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve]
Rated from 10% to 30% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 30%
Complete
- 20%
Incomplete, severe
- 10%
Incomplete, moderate
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note: Dependent upon relative loss of ordinary sensation in mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils.
VA Disability Rating: Paralysis of the Ninth (Glossopharyngeal) Cranial Nerve
Diagnostic Code 8209 · 38 CFR § 4.124a · Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders
What This Condition Involves
The ninth cranial nerve, known as the glossopharyngeal nerve, plays a role in sensation in the back of the throat. Paralysis of this nerve is rated under Diagnostic Code 8209 within the VA's schedule for Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders.
Under § 4.124a, this condition is rated based on the relative loss of ordinary sensation in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils.
Available Rating Levels
The VA assigns a disability rating based on whether the paralysis is complete or incomplete, and if incomplete, how severe it is:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 30% | Complete |
| 20% | Incomplete, severe |
| 10% | Incomplete, moderate |
What the VA Looks For
When rating paralysis of the ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve, the VA evaluates the relative loss of ordinary sensation in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, fauces, and tonsils. The degree of this sensory loss helps determine whether the paralysis is considered complete, or incomplete at a severe or moderate level.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.124a. Individual ratings depend on the specific findings in each case.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8209. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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