VA Diagnostic Code 8912Epilepsy, Jacksonian and focal motor or sensory.
Rated from 10% to 100% under § 4.124a. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 100%
Averaging at least 1 major seizure per month over the last year
- 80%
Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 3 months over the last year; or more than 10 minor seizures weekly
- 60%
Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 4 months over the last year; or 9-10 minor seizures per week
- 40%
At least 1 major seizure in the last 6 months or 2 in the last year; or averaging at least 5 to 8 minor seizures weekly
- 20%
At least 1 major seizure in the last 2 years; or at least 2 minor seizures in the last 6 months
- 10%
A confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy with a history of seizures
General rating formula
General Rating Formula for Major and Minor Epileptic Seizures:
VA Disability Ratings for Jacksonian and Focal Motor or Sensory Epilepsy (Diagnostic Code 8912)
Jacksonian and focal motor or sensory epilepsy is a neurological and convulsive disorder rated by the VA under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8912, within the body system of Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders.
Understanding the Condition
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder. Under the VA rating framework, seizures are considered in terms of major seizures and minor seizures. The frequency and type of seizures a veteran experiences over time are central to how this condition is evaluated.
This condition is rated using the General Rating Formula for Major and Minor Epileptic Seizures.
Available Rating Levels
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the frequency and severity of seizures:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Averaging at least 1 major seizure per month over the last year |
| 80% | Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 3 months over the last year; or more than 10 minor seizures weekly |
| 60% | Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 4 months over the last year; or 9–10 minor seizures per week |
| 40% | At least 1 major seizure in the last 6 months or 2 in the last year; or averaging at least 5 to 8 minor seizures weekly |
| 20% | At least 1 major seizure in the last 2 years; or at least 2 minor seizures in the last 6 months |
| 10% | A confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy with a history of seizures |
What the VA Looks For
When rating this condition, the VA focuses on:
- A confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy with a documented history of seizures.
- The type of seizures experienced — whether major or minor.
- The frequency of seizures measured over specific time periods (for example, over the last year, the last 6 months, or the last 2 years).
Higher ratings reflect more frequent major seizures or a greater number of minor seizures per week, as outlined in the rating levels above.
This information is provided for general educational purposes and is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule. It is not legal advice, and individual outcomes depend on your specific medical evidence and circumstances.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.124a, diagnostic code 8912. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
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Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.
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Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 8912 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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