VA Diagnostic Code 8309Neuritis [Ninth (glossopharyngeal) 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 ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve.
What each rating requires
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- 10%
Incomplete, moderate
General rating formula
Rate as Paralysis of: [Ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve] (DC 8209)
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: [Ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve] (DC 8209). 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 Ninth (Glossopharyngeal) Cranial Nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8309
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders · Rated under 38 CFR § 4.124a
Understanding This Condition
The ninth cranial nerve — known as the glossopharyngeal nerve — is one of the nerves that connects your brain to the throat and back of the tongue area. Neuritis refers to inflammation of this nerve.
Under Diagnostic Code 8309, the VA evaluates neuritis of the ninth (glossopharyngeal) cranial nerve.
How This Rating Works
This condition does not have its own standalone rating scale. Instead, the VA rates it by analogy to Paralysis of the Ninth (Glossopharyngeal) Cranial Nerve (Diagnostic Code 8209).
An important rule applies here. Under § 4.123:
- Neuritis that is not accompanied by organic changes is rated at a maximum of moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Neuritis with organic changes — such as loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain (at times excruciating) — may be rated up to severe incomplete paralysis.
Available Rating Level
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 10% | Incomplete, moderate |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating this condition, the VA considers whether the neuritis is characterized by organic changes, which include:
- Loss of reflexes
- Muscle atrophy
- Sensory disturbances
- Constant pain, at times excruciating
The presence or absence of these organic changes determines the ceiling on how the condition may be rated — up to moderate incomplete paralysis without such changes, and potentially up to severe incomplete paralysis when those organic changes are present.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule (38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8309). It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8309. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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