VA Diagnostic Code 8616Neuritis.
Rated from 10% to 30% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 30%20% non-dominant
Incomplete: Moderate
- 10%10% non-dominant
Incomplete: Mild
General rating formula
Rate as Paralysis of: (DC 8516)
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note: Combined nerve injuries should be rated by reference to the major involvement, or if sufficient in extent, consider radicular group ratings.
- Rated by analogy to Paralysis of: (DC 8516). 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.
VA Disability Rating: Neuritis (Diagnostic Code 8616)
Understanding Neuritis
Neuritis is a neurological condition addressed under the VA's rating schedule at § 4.124a, within the category of Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders.
Under Diagnostic Code 8616, neuritis is rated as Paralysis of the ulnar nerve (DC 8516). In other words, the VA evaluates the effects of neuritis by analogy to how it rates paralysis of that nerve.
An important distinction applies under § 4.123:
- Neuritis that is not characterized by organic changes is rated at a maximum of moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Neuritis with organic changes may be rated up to severe incomplete paralysis.
"Organic changes" in this context refers to findings such as loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain that is at times excruciating.
Available Rating Levels
The rating levels below reflect the schedule for this condition. Ratings differ depending on whether the affected extremity is your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) side.
| Rating | Level of Incomplete Paralysis | Dominant Extremity | Non-Dominant Extremity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Incomplete: Moderate | 30% | 20% |
| Mild | Incomplete: Mild | 10% | 10% |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating neuritis under this diagnostic code, the VA considers:
- The degree of incomplete paralysis — whether the impairment is best characterized as mild or moderate (and, where organic changes are present, whether it may reach the severe level under § 4.123).
- Whether organic changes are present — including loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant, at times excruciating, pain. The presence or absence of these findings affects the maximum rating available.
- Which extremity is affected — ratings account for whether the condition involves the dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) extremity.
- Combined nerve injuries — these should be rated by reference to the major involvement, or, if sufficient in extent, evaluated using radicular group ratings.
This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule under § 4.124a and § 4.123. 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 8616. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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