Body system: Neurological Conditions and Convulsive DisordersRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.124a
Diagnostic Code 8209 covers paralysis of the musculospiral nerve, which is the nerve that controls muscles in your arm and hand that help you extend your wrist and fingers. The VA rates this condition from 10% to 30% depending on whether the paralysis is complete (30%), incomplete but severe (20%), or incomplete and moderate (10%). Complete paralysis means you've lost all function controlled by this nerve, while incomplete means you still have some movement but it's significantly limited.
Rating levels
- 30% — Complete paralysis means you have total loss of movement and feeling in the affected body part. You cannot move the paralyzed area at all, and you have no sensation (ability to feel touch, pain, or temperature) in that region. This is different from partial paralysis where you might still have some limited movement or feeling.
- 20% — You have severe paralysis that significantly affects your movement and function, but it's not complete - meaning you still have some limited movement or sensation in the affected area. The paralysis causes major difficulty with daily activities and substantially impairs your ability to use the affected body part, even though it's not totally paralyzed.
- 10% — You have partial paralysis that causes moderate problems with movement and function in the affected body part. The paralysis is "incomplete" meaning you still have some ability to move or feel sensation, but it's significantly reduced compared to normal. You experience noticeable weakness, reduced coordination, or limited range of motion that affects your daily activities but doesn't completely prevent you from using that part of your body.