---
title: "DC 8013 - Syphilis, cerebrospinal"
diagnostic_code: "8013"
body_system: "Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders"
cfr_section: "§ 4.124a"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/neurological/8013-syphilis-cerebrospinal"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.124a"
updated: "2026-07-21T05:06:10.396566Z"
---

# DC 8013 - Syphilis, cerebrospinal

Rated under § 4.124a. Body system: Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders.

Rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc.

## Rating criteria

No itemised criteria have been extracted for this code. Use the official source.

## Notes

- Note: Rate upon the severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment or psychotic involvement, etc.
- Note: It is required for the minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000-8025, that there be ascertainable residuals. Determinations as to the presence of residuals not capable of objective verification, i.e., headaches, dizziness, fatigability, must be approached on the basis of the diagnosis recorded; subjective residuals will be accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease. It is of exceptional importance that when ratings in excess of the prescribed minimum ratings are assigned, the diagnostic codes utilized as bases of evaluation be cited, in addition to the codes identifying the diagnoses.

# Cerebrospinal Syphilis (VA Diagnostic Code 8013)

## Understanding This Condition and How the VA Rates It

Cerebrospinal syphilis is a neurological condition evaluated by the VA under **Diagnostic Code 8013**, part of **§ 4.124a** in the category of **Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders**.

### What the VA Looks At

Unlike some conditions that use a fixed set of percentage levels, cerebrospinal syphilis is rated based on **the severity of its residuals** — that is, the lasting effects the condition produces. According to the rating criteria, the VA rates this condition upon the severity of:

- **Convulsions**
- **Paralysis**
- **Visual impairment**
- **Psychotic involvement**
- and other related effects

Because the impact of this condition can show up in different ways, the evaluation focuses on the specific residual effects a person actually experiences.

### What the VA Requires

**Ascertainable residuals must be present.** For the minimum ratings under diagnostic codes 8000–8025, the VA requires that there be residuals that can be identified.

- **Objective residuals:** Determinations rely on residuals that can be verified.
- **Subjective residuals** — such as headaches, dizziness, or fatigability — are approached on the basis of the recorded diagnosis. These subjective residuals will be accepted **when consistent with the disease** and **not more likely attributable to another disease or to no disease at all**.

### How Higher Ratings Are Documented

The VA notes that it is of **exceptional importance** that when ratings above the prescribed minimum are assigned, the diagnostic codes used as the basis of evaluation are cited — in addition to the codes identifying the diagnoses themselves.

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*This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8013. It describes how the condition is rated and does not predict any individual outcome.*

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.124a