Government and public statistics
38 CFR 4.124a: Schedule of ratings for peripheral nerve conditions
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The VA rating schedule for peripheral nerve conditions, including the table for paralysis of the median nerve under Diagnostic Code 8515.
- How much weight it carries
- Regulation text as published by Cornell LII. The official eCFR blocked automated access during checking, and the copied table has no column headings, so confirm the headings on the eCFR.
Facts taken from this source
- The VA schedule for complete median nerve paralysis lists an ape hand as one of its signs, described as the thumb lying in the plane of the hand.
“the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand)” (Table under Diagnostic Code 8515, median nerve, Complete)
- For complete median nerve paralysis with the signs the schedule lists, the VA rating is 70 percent for the major arm and 60 percent for the minor arm.
“flexion of wrist weakened; pain with trophic disturbances 70 60” (Table under Diagnostic Code 8515, median nerve)
- The VA schedule for median nerve paralysis gives incomplete paralysis ratings of 50 percent for severe (major arm) and 40 percent (minor arm), 30 and 20 percent for moderate, and 10 percent for mild.
“Incomplete: Severe 50 40 Moderate 30 20 Mild 10 10” (Table under Diagnostic Code 8515, median nerve)
- The VA schedule of ratings for diseases of the peripheral nerves has two rating columns, headed Major and Minor.
“Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves Schedule of ratings Rating Major Minor” (Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves, schedule of ratings heading, before Diagnostic Code 8515)