VA Diagnostic Code 8621Neuritis.
Rated from 10% to 20% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 20%
Incomplete: Moderate
- 10%
Incomplete: Mild
General rating formula
Rate as Paralysis of: (DC 8521)
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Rated by analogy to Paralysis of: (DC 8521). 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.
Neuritis (VA Diagnostic Code 8621)
Understanding Neuritis and How the VA Rates It
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 8621, neuritis is rated by analogy to Paralysis of the External Popliteal Nerve (Common Peroneal Nerve), Diagnostic Code 8521. In other words, the VA looks at how the neuritis affects the same nerve function and applies the corresponding rating levels used for paralysis of that nerve.
Available Rating Levels
For neuritis rated under DC 8621, the schedule provides the following levels for incomplete paralysis:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 20% | Incomplete paralysis — Moderate |
| 10% | Incomplete paralysis — Mild |
What the VA Looks For
When rating neuritis, the VA follows the guidance in § 4.123, which distinguishes between neuritis with and without organic changes:
-
Neuritis not characterized by organic changes is rated at a maximum of moderate incomplete paralysis (up to the 20% level under DC 8621).
-
Neuritis with organic changes — such as:
- Loss of reflexes
- Muscle atrophy
- Sensory disturbances
- Constant pain (at times excruciating)
may be rated up to severe incomplete paralysis.
The presence or absence of these organic changes is a key factor the VA considers when determining which rating level applies.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule (§ 4.124a, § 4.123, Diagnostic Code 8621) and is provided for general educational purposes. It describes how the condition is rated and does not guarantee any particular outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8621. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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