YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Myasthenia GravisVA disability rating & claim guide
DC 8025 prints a single line, minimum rating, 30 percent, and under it the note that governs the minimum ratings for residuals under every code from 8000 to 8025. The minimum requires ascertainable residuals. Anything above it is assigned through the residuals, and the paragraph that opens 38 CFR 4.124a says these diseases may, with the exceptions noted, be rated from 10 to 100 percent in proportion to the impairment of motor, sensory, or mental function, referring to the appropriate bodily system of the schedule. So the 30 percent is a floor, not a cap. Part 3 lists myasthenia gravis among the chronic diseases presumed service connected when they become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year of separation.
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How the VA rates Myasthenia Gravis
The VA rates Myasthenia Gravis under diagnostic code 8025, in 38 CFR § 4.124a (neurological conditions), and the schedule publishes a single evaluation under it: 30%.
DC 8025's entry has one criterion: minimum rating, 30 percent. It is not the code's ladder, and two passages of 38 CFR 4.124a say why. The first is the bracketed paragraph the section opens with: "[With the exceptions noted, disability from the following diseases and their residuals may be rated from 10 percent to 100 percent in proportion to the impairment of motor, sensory, or mental function. Consider especially psychotic manifestations, complete or partial loss of use of one or more extremities, speech disturbances, impairment of vision, disturbances of gait, tremors, visceral manifestations, etc., referring to the appropriate bodily system of the schedule. With partial loss of use of one or more extremities from neurological lesions, rate by comparison with the mild, moderate, severe, or complete paralysis of peripheral nerves]". The second is the note printed under this code, which by its own words governs the minimum ratings for residuals under diagnostic codes 8000 through 8025: it is required for those minimum ratings that there be ascertainable residuals; residuals not capable of objective verification, which it identifies as headaches, dizziness and fatigability, must be approached on the basis of the diagnosis recorded, and subjective residuals will be accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease; and when ratings in excess of the prescribed minimum ratings are assigned, it is of exceptional importance that the diagnostic codes utilized as bases of evaluation be cited, in addition to the codes identifying the diagnoses. Read together, an evaluation of myasthenia gravis above the minimum comes from its residuals, evaluated by reference to the body systems they affect, with the codes used cited. The 30 percent is the floor: the least the code assigns once a residual is ascertainable, and not a cap on what the residuals can reach. One general rule completes the picture. 38 CFR 4.31 says that where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a code, a zero percent evaluation is assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. Under this code, that is the case where no ascertainable residual is shown.
- Diagnostic code
- 8025
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Ratings published
- 30%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
There is no higher or lower step inside this code: a rating decision either finds its criteria met or it does not. Where they are not met, 38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a 0% evaluation: service connection granted, at a level that does not pay.
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Small details. Better preparation.
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim4 tips
- 01
List every residual on the claim by name, so each can be evaluated under the body system the section's opening paragraph points to.
- 02
When a decision goes above the minimum, check that it cites each diagnostic code it used. The note under DC 8025 calls that of exceptional importance.
- 03
For an arm or leg, ask for findings graded mild, moderate, severe or complete, the scale 38 CFR 4.124a says partial loss of use is compared against.
- 04
If the disease became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year of separation, cite 38 CFR 3.309(a) and put the earliest records of it in the file.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind4 tips
- 01
The 30 percent read as a cap. It is the minimum. The section's opening paragraph says that, with the exceptions noted, these diseases and their residuals may be rated from 10 to 100 percent in proportion to impairment, and for myasthenia gravis anything above the minimum is assessed through the residuals.
- 02
An examination that records the diagnosis but not the residuals. The minimum itself requires ascertainable residuals, and every percentage above it comes from them.
- 03
Symptoms set aside because they cannot be objectively verified. The note under DC 8025 says fatigability, dizziness and headaches are approached on the basis of the diagnosis recorded.
- 04
A decision above the minimum that does not cite the codes it used. The note calls it of exceptional importance that the diagnostic codes used as bases of evaluation be cited alongside the code for the diagnosis, which is also how a veteran can check that each residual was evaluated.
Common filing mistakes4 tips
- 01
Treating 30 percent as the most this code can pay. Above the minimum, the schedule rates these diseases through their residuals, in proportion to the impairment.
- 02
Claiming only the diagnosis. An evaluation above the minimum is built from the residuals, so name each one and put the records of it in the file.
- 03
Leaving out residuals that belong to other body systems. The section's opening paragraph names impairment of vision, speech disturbances, psychotic manifestations and visceral manifestations, and tells the rater to refer to the appropriate bodily system for each.
- 04
Missing the chronic-disease window. The presumption applies where the disease became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year of separation.
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
The schedule states no course of onset for this code.
- 02
Part 3 states the window for the presumption: one year from separation, under 38 CFR 3.307(a)(3).
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Myasthenia Gravis
Is Myasthenia Gravis a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Myasthenia Gravis under VASRD diagnostic code 8025 (Neurological Conditions). DC 8025 prints a single line, minimum rating, 30 percent, and under it the note that governs the minimum ratings for residuals under every code from 8000 to 8025. The minimum requires ascertainable residuals. Anything above…
What VA disability rating can I get for Myasthenia Gravis?
Possible VA ratings for Myasthenia Gravis are 30%. Examples: 30%: The least this code assigns once a residual is ascertainable, and not a cap. An evaluation above it is assigned under the codes of the residuals, which the note under DC 8025 says should be cited..
What evidence helps prove Myasthenia Gravis for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Myasthenia Gravis claim includes: A record of every residual, named and described. The section's opening paragraph lists what to consider: motor, sensory and mental function, loss of use of an extremity, speech, vision, gait, tremors and visceral manifestations. Each one found is what an evaluati…
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Myasthenia Gravis?
Common pitfalls when filing for Myasthenia Gravis: Treating 30 percent as the most this code can pay. Above the minimum, the schedule rates these diseases through their residuals, in proportion to the impairment.; Claiming only the diagnosis. An evaluation above the minimum is built from the residuals, so name each on…
Is Myasthenia Gravis a presumptive condition for VA benefits?
Yes, Myasthenia Gravis is recognized as a presumptive condition. 38 CFR 3.309(a) lists "Myasthenia gravis" among the chronic diseases. Under 3.307(a)(3) it must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year of the date of separation, and under 3.307(a)(1) the veteran must have served 90 days o…
What does the note under DC 8025 mean for my rating?
It sets the rule for the minimum ratings for residuals under the codes from 8000 to 8025, this one included. The minimum requires ascertainable residuals. Residuals not capable of objective verification, which the note identifies as headaches, dizziness and fatigability, are approached on the basis of the diagnosis recorded, and subjective residuals are accepted when consistent with the disease and not more likely attributable to other disease or no disease. And when a rating above the minimum is assigned, the note calls it of exceptional importance that the diagnostic codes used as bases of evaluation be cited alongside the code for the diagnosis, so a decision should show which code each part of the evaluation came from.
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Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of ratings, neurological conditions (Diagnostic Code 8025)
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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