VA Diagnostic Code 8405Neuralgia [Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve]
Rated from 10% to 50% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
Not the right code?
Summary
Neuralgia of the fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve.
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 50%
Complete
- 30%
Incomplete, severe
- 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.
- Note: Tic douloureux may be rated in accordance with severity, up to complete paralysis.
- Rated by analogy to Paralysis of: [Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve] (DC 8205). Per § 4.124, tic douloureux may be rated up to complete paralysis of the affected nerve.
Trigeminal Nerve Neuralgia (VA Diagnostic Code 8405)
Understanding This Condition
Neuralgia of the fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve is a nerve condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which is the nerve responsible for sensation in the face. This condition is rated by the VA under Diagnostic Code 8405, within the body system category of Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders (governed by 38 CFR § 4.124a).
In plain terms, neuralgia refers to nerve pain or irritation along the trigeminal nerve. A specific related form of this condition, tic douloureux, may also be evaluated under this code.
How the VA Rates This Condition
Trigeminal nerve neuralgia is rated by analogy to Paralysis of the Fifth (trigeminal) cranial nerve (DC 8205). This means the VA looks at the severity of the nerve involvement to assign a rating.
Per § 4.124, tic douloureux may be rated in accordance with its severity, up to complete paralysis of the affected nerve.
Available Rating Levels
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 50% | Complete |
| 30% | Incomplete, severe |
| 10% | Incomplete, moderate |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating this condition, the VA focuses on the degree of nerve involvement:
- Complete involvement of the trigeminal nerve corresponds to the highest rating level (50%).
- Incomplete, severe involvement corresponds to the 30% level.
- Incomplete, moderate involvement corresponds to the 10% level.
Because this condition is rated by analogy to paralysis of the trigeminal nerve (DC 8205), the assessment centers on how severely the nerve is affected — ranging from moderate incomplete involvement up to complete involvement.
This information is based on the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8405. Individual ratings depend on the specific facts and medical evidence in each case.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8405. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
Find your level in the stack
Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.
Name the gap
Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 8405 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders codes may cover your secondary conditions.
Find out which rating your evidence supports.
Six reads your records against these exact criteria and tells you what the VA is still missing.
Start for freeAll 119 Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders codes →