Radiculopathy and other peripheral nerve conditions are rated under 38 CFR 4.124a, which uses the diagnostic codes for the specific nerve involved (for example, the sciatic nerve, femoral nerve, or upper extremity nerves depending on the spine level affected). These codes rate incomplete paralysis as mild, moderate, or moderately severe, with complete paralysis rated separately and much higher. A 20% rating under most of these codes corresponds to "moderate" incomplete paralysis, while 10% corresponds to "mild" symptoms.
There is no single required checklist of findings that automatically produces a specific percentage. Raters are instructed to look at the overall clinical picture, including nerve conduction studies or EMG results, documented sensory changes (numbness, tingling), motor weakness, muscle atrophy, and reflex changes, then compare that picture to the mild/moderate/moderately severe/severe descriptions in the regulation. You do not need every single sign (EMG abnormality, atrophy, weakness, numbness, and diminished reflexes) to qualify for 20%. Many veterans are rated at 20% with EMG-confirmed nerve involvement plus sensory and motor complaints, without atrophy, since atrophy and severe reflex loss are more indicative of "moderately severe" or worse. The key question the rater is trying to answer is how much functional impairment the nerve involvement causes, not how many boxes are checked.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →Because outcomes genuinely vary based on the specific nerve, the consistency of findings in the record, and how the examiner characterizes severity, it is not possible to say that a certain exact combination guarantees a certain percentage. A Compensation and Pension examiner will typically select a severity level after reviewing the medical evidence and functional impact, and the rating decision should explain which DC was used and why. If your current records already include EMG findings, documented numbness, or weakness, it may be reasonable to proceed with a claim rather than wait for additional testing, since the duty to assist means the VA can schedule its own exam to assess severity.
The concrete next step is to gather your existing treatment records and any EMG or nerve conduction study results, then file the claim using VA Form 21-526EZ so the VA can schedule a Compensation and Pension exam to evaluate the current severity of the nerve involvement.#
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