YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) under diagnostic code 8510, in 38 CFR § 4.124a (neurological conditions), and the schedule provides six evaluation levels for it: 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30% and 20%.
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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 Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)
Damage to the upper radicular nerve group (the fifth and sixth cervical nerves), affecting shoulder and elbow movement.
The rating turns on whether paralysis is complete or incomplete, how severe it is, and whether the dominant arm is affected. Complete paralysis, with all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected and hand and wrist movements not affected, is 70% for the dominant arm and 60% for the other; mild incomplete paralysis is 20% for either arm. When the involvement is wholly sensory, the schedule rates it mild or, at most, moderate. Neurologic testing and EMG document the pattern of weakness.
- Diagnostic code
- 8510
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Schedule levels
- 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30% and 20%
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
Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) VA rating criteria (DC 8510)
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 Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) 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 Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)?
- 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 Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) 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 claim2 tips
- 01
Document the impact on activities of daily living (dressing, reaching, lifting), since this functional detail helps translate the nerve testing into a real-world severity picture.
- 02
Track physical therapy progress over time, since changes in function can support or clarify the severity of the nerve damage.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Missing EMG results, which are typically necessary to confirm and grade this specific nerve injury.
- 02
Inconsistent motion test reports across different exams.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Not documenting which specific nerve group is involved, since the brachial plexus has multiple distinct components rated differently.
- 02
No description of secondary effects, like muscle atrophy from disuse.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
This condition often follows trauma to the shoulder or neck, or develops from a repetitive-use injury that damaged the brachial plexus over time.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High when nerve conduction confirmed.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~3,600 veterans
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 Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)
Is Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) under VASRD diagnostic code 8510 (Neurological Conditions). Damage to the upper radicular nerve group (the fifth and sixth cervical nerves), affecting shoulder and elbow movement.
What VA disability rating can I get for Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)?
Possible VA ratings for Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) are 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 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 upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals), dominant (major) extremity: all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected; 60%: Complete paralysis of the upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals), non-dominant (minor) extremity: all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected; 50%: Incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular group (fifth and sixth cervicals): severe, dominant (major) extremity.
What evidence helps prove Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage) claim includes: MRI and nerve conduction studies confirming the location and severity of the nerve damage; Functional mobility tests documenting shoulder and arm function.
Which DBQ is used for Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)?
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 Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage): Not documenting which specific nerve group is involved, since the brachial plexus has multiple distinct components rated differently; No description of secondary effects, like muscle atrophy from disuse.
What conditions can be secondary to Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage), when a medical opinion links them, include: Shoulder Arthritis. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of ratings, neurological conditions (Diagnostic Code 8510)
- 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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