VA Diagnostic Code 8305Neuritis [Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve]
A single 10% rating under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires for it.
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Summary
Neuritis of the fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve.
What each rating requires
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- 10%
Incomplete, moderate
General rating formula
Rate as Paralysis of: [Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve] (DC 8205)
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Rated by analogy to Paralysis of: [Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve] (DC 8205). Per § 4.123, neuritis not characterized by organic changes (loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain, at times excruciating) is rated at a maximum of moderate incomplete paralysis; with such organic changes it may be rated up to severe incomplete paralysis.
Neuritis of the Fifth (Trigeminal) Cranial Nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8305
Body System: Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders Regulation: 38 CFR § 4.124a
What This Condition Is
Diagnostic Code 8305 covers neuritis of the fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve. The trigeminal nerve is one of the cranial nerves, and neuritis refers to inflammation affecting it.
Under the VA rating schedule, this condition is rated by analogy to Paralysis of the Fifth (Trigeminal) Cranial Nerve (Diagnostic Code 8205). In other words, the VA looks to the paralysis criteria for that same nerve when assigning a rating for neuritis.
Available Rating Level
For this diagnostic code, the schedule lists the following rating level:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Incomplete, moderate |
What the VA Looks For
Because neuritis under DC 8305 is rated by analogy to paralysis (DC 8205), the rating turns on the presence and severity of certain findings, as guided by § 4.123:
-
Neuritis without organic changes — that is, without loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain (at times excruciating) — is rated at a maximum of moderate incomplete paralysis.
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Neuritis with such organic changes — the presence of the findings above — may be rated up to severe incomplete paralysis.
The VA evaluates the nature of the nerve involvement and whether these organic changes are present when determining how the condition is rated.
This information summarizes the VA rating schedule criteria for Diagnostic Code 8305. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not predict or guarantee any specific rating outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8305. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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