YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Median Nerve Paralysis VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Median Nerve Paralysis under diagnostic code 8515, in 38 CFR § 4.124a (neurological conditions), and the schedule provides seven evaluation levels for it: 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% and 10%.
Free · No account needed
Save your Median Nerve Paralysis guide
Email yourself this Median Nerve Paralysis guide so the rating criteria, evidence checklist, and preparation tips are easy to find later.
A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Median Nerve Paralysis
Damage to the median nerve causing weakness, pain, or paralysis in the hand.
The rating depends on whether paralysis is complete or incomplete and how severe it is, confirmed through EMG and nerve conduction studies and grip strength testing. The dominant hand is rated higher at every level except mild, which is 10% for either hand.
- Diagnostic code
- 8515
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Schedule levels
- 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% and 10%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Median Nerve Paralysis VA rating criteria (DC 8515)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Median Nerve Paralysis claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Median Nerve Paralysis?
- Peripheral Nerves DBQ (PDF, VA.gov)
- Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy DBQ (PDF, VA.gov), for diabetic sensory-motor peripheral neuropathy, which VA's Peripheral Nerves form excludes
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Median Nerve Paralysis claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Include EMG/NCS (nerve conduction study) test results, since this objective testing is what confirms and grades the severity of median nerve dysfunction.
- 02
Show work-related limitations specifically - tasks requiring fine motor control or grip strength - to connect the nerve finding to real functional loss.
- 03
Explain exactly which fingers are affected and how, since the median nerve's distribution (thumb, index, middle finger) is specific and worth documenting precisely.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
No nerve test results in the file, leaving the diagnosis without the objective confirmation this rating depends on.
- 02
General wrist pain reported without specific nerve-related findings, which can be rated differently than confirmed median nerve paralysis.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Not specifying which hand is dominant, since above the mild level the dominant hand is rated higher.
- 02
Describing only pain without documenting actual functional loss, since the rating schedule is built around functional impairment, not pain alone.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Median nerve paralysis often develops from repetitive stress or direct trauma at the wrist or forearm, and is frequently associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
YOUR SERVICE STORY
Military jobs associated with Median Nerve Paralysis
More by branch: Army · Marines · Air Force · Navy · Coast Guard · Space Force
THE BROADER PICTURE
Median Nerve Paralysis by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate – stronger if EMG shows severe dysfunction.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~26,000 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~30%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Median Nerve Paralysis
Is Median Nerve Paralysis a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Median Nerve Paralysis under VASRD diagnostic code 8515 (Neurological Conditions). Damage to the median nerve causing weakness, pain, or paralysis in the hand.
What VA disability rating can I get for Median Nerve Paralysis?
Possible VA ratings for Median Nerve Paralysis are 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 70%: Complete paralysis of the median nerve, dominant (major) extremity: the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand); pronation incomplete and defective, absence of flexion of index finger and feeble flexion of middle finger, cannot make a fist, index and middle fingers remain extended; cannot flex distal phalanx of thumb, defective opposition and abduction of the thumb, at right angles to palm; flexion of wrist weakened; pain with trophic disturbances; 60%: Complete paralysis of the median nerve, non-dominant (minor) extremity: the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand); pronation incomplete and defective, absence of flexion of index finger and feeble flexion of middle finger, cannot make a fist, index and middle fingers remain extended; cannot flex distal phalanx of thumb, defective opposition and abduction of the thumb, at right angles to palm; flexion of wrist weakened; pain with trophic disturbances; 50%: Incomplete paralysis of the median nerve: severe, dominant (major) extremity.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Median Nerve Paralysis?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Median Nerve Paralysis at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 26,000 veterans are service-connected for Median Nerve Paralysis. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate – stronger if EMG shows severe dysfunction.
What evidence helps prove Median Nerve Paralysis for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Median Nerve Paralysis claim includes: Nerve conduction study results confirming the location and severity of the nerve damage; Grip strength comparison between the affected and unaffected hand; Evidence of occupational impact, such as difficulty performing fine motor tasks required for work.
Which DBQ is used for Median Nerve Paralysis?
VA's Peripheral Nerves Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), for diabetic sensory-motor peripheral neuropathy, which VA's Peripheral Nerves form excludes, is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Median Nerve Paralysis?
Common pitfalls when filing for Median Nerve Paralysis: Not specifying which hand is dominant, since above the mild level the dominant hand is rated higher; Describing only pain without documenting actual functional loss, since the rating schedule is built around functional impairment, not pain alone.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of ratings, neurological conditions (Diagnostic Code 8515)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline