YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis under diagnostic code 8525, in 38 CFR § 4.124a (neurological conditions), and the schedule provides three evaluation levels for it: 30%, 20% and 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis
The posterior tibial nerve runs down the back of the calf and controls movement and sensation in the foot and toes. Damage to this nerve can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or in severe cases the foot becoming fixed in a downward (plantar flexed) position, and it's most often linked to a specific leg injury or surgery.
DC 8525 rates paralysis of the posterior tibial nerve. Complete paralysis is 30 percent; incomplete paralysis is rated severe at 20 percent, and moderate or mild at 10 percent. The schedule's ceiling for this nerve is 30 percent, which is lower than for the internal popliteal (tibial) nerve at DC 8524, so which nerve the evidence identifies matters directly to the evaluation. Electrodiagnostic testing (EMG/NCV) is the objective evidence that separates the incomplete tiers.
- Diagnostic code
- 8525
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Schedule levels
- 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
Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis VA rating criteria (DC 8525)
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 Posterior Tibial 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 Posterior Tibial 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 Posterior Tibial 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
Get nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCV) done, since this objective test is what distinguishes mild, moderate, and severe incomplete paralysis under the rating criteria.
- 02
Describe specifically how foot dysfunction affects daily life - walking, balance, standing for periods of time - rather than just reporting numbness.
- 03
Connect the nerve damage to a specific surgery or injury when possible, since this code is rarely presumptive and usually depends on a documented causal event.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Relying only on your own report of numbness or weakness without electrodiagnostic testing to confirm and grade the nerve damage.
- 02
Missing physical exam findings (like specific muscle strength testing) that would otherwise support the incomplete-paralysis severity tiers.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Describing general foot pain without an actual nerve diagnosis, since this code specifically rates nerve dysfunction, not musculoskeletal pain.
- 02
Not submitting EMG/NCV testing, which is often the deciding evidence between the different severity tiers.
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
Posterior tibial nerve paralysis most often follows a leg injury, fracture, or surgery where the nerve was stretched, compressed, or directly damaged.
- 02
Without treatment or nerve recovery, symptoms can worsen gradually over time as the affected muscles and skin lose more function.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate – needs nerve testing (EMG/NCV).
- Veterans service-connected
- ~65,000 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~20%
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 Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis
Is Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis under VASRD diagnostic code 8525 (Neurological Conditions). The posterior tibial nerve runs down the back of the calf and controls movement and sensation in the foot and toes. Damage to this nerve can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or in severe cases the foot becoming fixed in a downward (plantar flexed) position, and it's most often linked to a specific leg injury or surgery.
What VA disability rating can I get for Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis?
Possible VA ratings for Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis are 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 30%: Complete; paralysis of all muscles of sole of foot, frequently with painful paralysis of a causalgic nature; toes cannot be flexed; adduction is weakened; plantar flexion is impaired; 20%: Incomplete: Severe; 10%: Incomplete: Moderate or mild.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis at around 20%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 65,000 veterans are service-connected for Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate – needs nerve testing (EMG/NCV).
What evidence helps prove Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis claim includes: EMG or NCV (nerve conduction velocity) test results, which are the objective measurement this rating schedule relies on; Neurologist documentation specifically describing the sensory and motor findings in the foot and lower leg.
Which DBQ is used for Posterior Tibial 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 Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis?
Common pitfalls when filing for Posterior Tibial Nerve Paralysis: Describing general foot pain without an actual nerve diagnosis, since this code specifically rates nerve dysfunction, not musculoskeletal pain; Not submitting EMG/NCV testing, which is often the deciding evidence between the different severity tiers.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of ratings, neurological conditions (Diagnostic Code 8525)
- 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.
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