Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders§ 4.124aUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 8521Paralysis of:

Rated from 10% to 40% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

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  1. 40%

    Complete; foot drop and slight droop of first phalanges of all toes, cannot dorsiflex the foot, extension (dorsal flexion) of proximal phalanges of toes lost; abduction of foot lost, adduction weakened; anesthesia covers entire dorsum of foot and toes

  2. 30%

    Incomplete: Severe

  3. 20%

    Incomplete: Moderate

  4. 10%

    Incomplete: Mild

Paralysis of the External Popliteal Nerve (Common Peroneal Nerve) — VA Diagnostic Code 8521

Body System: Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders Regulation: 38 CFR § 4.124a

Understanding This Condition

Diagnostic Code 8521 addresses paralysis affecting the nerve that controls movement and sensation in parts of the lower leg and foot. Depending on severity, this can impact your ability to lift the front of your foot, move your toes, and feel sensation across the top of the foot.

The VA rates this condition on a sliding scale based on whether the paralysis is complete or incomplete, and how severe the impairment is.

Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns one of the following disability ratings under Diagnostic Code 8521:

40% — Complete Paralysis

Assigned when there is complete paralysis, described as:

  • Foot drop and slight droop of the first phalanges of all toes
  • Inability to dorsiflex (lift) the foot
  • Loss of extension (dorsal flexion) of the proximal phalanges of the toes
  • Loss of foot abduction, with weakened adduction
  • Anesthesia (loss of sensation) covering the entire dorsum (top) of the foot and toes

30% — Incomplete Paralysis, Severe

20% — Incomplete Paralysis, Moderate

10% — Incomplete Paralysis, Mild

What the VA Looks For

When rating this condition, the VA evaluates:

  • Whether the paralysis is complete or incomplete. Complete paralysis (rated at 40%) is defined by the specific set of findings listed above, including foot drop, loss of toe extension, loss of foot abduction, and loss of sensation across the top of the foot.

  • The severity of incomplete paralysis. For incomplete paralysis, the VA distinguishes between mild (10%), moderate (20%), and severe (30%) levels of impairment.

Your rating reflects the degree to which the nerve function is impaired, as documented in your medical evidence.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8521. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 8521 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.

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