VA Diagnostic Code 8514Paralysis of:

Paralysis of the Musculospiral (Radial) Nerve — VA Diagnostic Code 8514

Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders · 38 CFR § 4.124a

What This Rating Covers

Diagnostic Code 8514 addresses paralysis affecting the nerve that controls the muscles used to extend the hand, wrist, fingers, and thumb. Depending on severity, the VA recognizes both complete paralysis and incomplete paralysis, and it applies different percentages depending on whether the condition affects your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) extremity.

Under this code, complete paralysis is described in detail, while incomplete paralysis is rated by degree — mild, moderate, or severe.

Available Rating Levels

Ratings differ based on whether the affected arm is your dominant or non-dominant side.

Complete Paralysis (70% dominant / 60% non-dominant)

The VA describes complete paralysis under this code as:

• Drop of the hand and fingers
• Wrist and fingers perpetually flexed
• The thumb adducted, falling within the line of the outer border of the index finger
• Inability to extend the hand at the wrist, extend the proximal phalanges of the fingers, extend the thumb, or make lateral movement of the wrist
• Weakened supination of the hand and weakened extension and flexion of the elbow
• Loss of synergic motion of the extensors that seriously impairs the hand grip

Note that total paralysis of the triceps occurs only as the greatest rarity.

Incomplete Paralysis

Incomplete paralysis is rated as Mild, Moderate, or Severe, with the percentage assigned according to the degree of severity and whether the dominant or non-dominant extremity is involved (see the table above).

What the VA Looks For

When rating under Code 8514, the VA considers:

• Whether paralysis is complete or incomplete, and — for incomplete cases — whether it is mild, moderate, or severe.
• Which extremity is affected, since dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremities carry different percentages.
• The specific functional findings described for complete paralysis, such as hand and finger drop, wrist and finger flexion, thumb position, and the ability to extend the hand, fingers, and thumb.

Important Notes

• Lesions involving only "dissociation of the extensor communis digitorum" and "paralysis below the extensor communis digitorum" will not exceed the moderate rating under Code 8514.
• Combined nerve injuries should be rated by reference to the major involvement, or — if sufficient in extent — considered under radicular group ratings.