Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders§ 4.124aUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 8523Paralysis of:

Rated from 0% to 30% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.

  1. 30%

    Complete; dorsal flexion of foot lost

  2. 20%

    Incomplete: Severe

  3. 10%

    Incomplete: Moderate

  4. 0%

    Incomplete: Mild

Anterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis (Deep Peroneal Nerve) — VA Diagnostic Code 8523

Body System: Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders Regulation: 38 CFR § 4.124a — Diagnostic Code 8523

Understanding This Condition

Diagnostic Code 8523 addresses paralysis of the anterior tibial nerve (deep peroneal nerve). One of the key functions associated with this nerve is dorsal flexion of the foot — the ability to lift the foot upward at the ankle. When this nerve is affected, that function can be reduced or lost.

The VA recognizes that nerve conditions can range from mild interference to complete loss of function. To reflect this, the rating schedule provides different levels depending on the severity of the paralysis and whether it is complete or incomplete.

Available Rating Levels

The VA assigns a disability rating based on how the condition presents. Under Diagnostic Code 8523, the recognized levels are:

RatingWhat It Reflects
30%Complete paralysis; dorsal flexion of the foot is lost
20%Incomplete paralysis that is severe
10%Incomplete paralysis that is moderate
0%Incomplete paralysis that is mild

What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a claim under this diagnostic code, the VA considers:

  • Whether the paralysis is complete or incomplete. Complete paralysis with loss of dorsal flexion of the foot corresponds to the 30% level.
  • The severity of incomplete paralysis. For incomplete cases, the rating is based on whether the impairment is described as mild (0%), moderate (10%), or severe (20%).
  • The function of the affected foot, particularly the ability to perform dorsal flexion (lifting the foot upward at the ankle).

Because the rating depends on the degree and completeness of the paralysis, documentation describing how the condition affects nerve function is central to how the VA applies this schedule.

This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8523. 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 8523. 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 8523 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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