VA Diagnostic Code 8311Neuritis [Eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) 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 eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve.
What each rating requires
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- 10%
Incomplete, moderate
General rating formula
Rate as Paralysis of: [Eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve] (DC 8211)
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: [Eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve] (DC 8211). 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 Eleventh (Spinal Accessory, External Branch) Cranial Nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8311
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders · 38 CFR § 4.124a
What This Condition Is
Neuritis of the eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve refers to inflammation or irritation affecting this cranial nerve. Because there is no separate rating table specifically for neuritis of this nerve, the VA rates it by analogy to Paralysis of the eleventh (spinal accessory, external branch) cranial nerve (Diagnostic Code 8211).
How the VA Rates It
Under Diagnostic Code 8311, the available rating level in the schedule is:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Incomplete, moderate |
The condition is rated using the same framework that applies to paralysis of this nerve.
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating neuritis under this code, the VA considers the guidance in § 4.123:
- Neuritis without organic changes — meaning without loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain (at times excruciating) — is rated at a maximum of moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Neuritis with such organic changes — where those signs (loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain) are present — may be rated up to severe incomplete paralysis.
In short, the VA looks at whether the nerve inflammation is accompanied by measurable organic changes, and rates the condition by analogy to paralysis of the same nerve (DC 8211) based on the severity of those findings.
This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule (38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8311) and is provided for general educational purposes. Individual ratings depend on your specific medical evidence and VA evaluation.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8311. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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