Body system: Neurological Conditions and Convulsive DisordersRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.124aDBQ: DBQ NEURO Peripheral Nerves
Neuritis is inflammation of one or more nerves that causes pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. The VA rates neuritis using the same criteria as paralysis conditions, which means they look at how much function you've lost in the affected area. Ratings range from 0% (mild symptoms with minimal functional loss) to 20% (severe symptoms that significantly impact your daily activities).
Rating levels
- 20% — This 20% level applies when your neuritis of the long thoracic nerve amounts to severe incomplete paralysis of that nerve on your dominant (major) arm: marked loss of strength, feeling or reflexes along the nerve, usually with muscle wasting. Neuritis is rated on the same scale as incomplete paralysis of the nerve. Under 38 CFR 4.123, neuritis without organic changes (muscle wasting, lost reflexes, sensory loss) is rated no higher than moderate; with those changes, severe incomplete paralysis is the highest level, and complete paralysis is rated under the nerve's paralysis code.
- 20% — This 20% level applies when your neuritis of the long thoracic nerve amounts to severe incomplete paralysis of that nerve on your non-dominant (minor) arm: marked loss of strength, feeling or reflexes along the nerve, usually with muscle wasting. Neuritis is rated on the same scale as incomplete paralysis of the nerve. Under 38 CFR 4.123, neuritis without organic changes (muscle wasting, lost reflexes, sensory loss) is rated no higher than moderate; with those changes, severe incomplete paralysis is the highest level, and complete paralysis is rated under the nerve's paralysis code.
- 10% — This 10% level applies when your neuritis of the long thoracic nerve amounts to moderate incomplete paralysis of that nerve on your dominant (major) arm: a clear loss of strength or feeling that is more than slight. Neuritis is rated on the same scale as incomplete paralysis of the nerve. Under 38 CFR 4.123, neuritis without organic changes (muscle wasting, lost reflexes, sensory loss) is rated no higher than moderate; with those changes, severe incomplete paralysis is the highest level, and complete paralysis is rated under the nerve's paralysis code.
- 10% — This 10% level applies when your neuritis of the long thoracic nerve amounts to moderate incomplete paralysis of that nerve on your non-dominant (minor) arm: a clear loss of strength or feeling that is more than slight. Neuritis is rated on the same scale as incomplete paralysis of the nerve. Under 38 CFR 4.123, neuritis without organic changes (muscle wasting, lost reflexes, sensory loss) is rated no higher than moderate; with those changes, severe incomplete paralysis is the highest level, and complete paralysis is rated under the nerve's paralysis code.
- 0% — This 0% level applies when your neuritis of the long thoracic nerve amounts to mild incomplete paralysis of that nerve on your dominant (major) arm: symptoms that are mostly sensory, with little loss of strength. Neuritis is rated on the same scale as incomplete paralysis of the nerve. Under 38 CFR 4.123, neuritis without organic changes (muscle wasting, lost reflexes, sensory loss) is rated no higher than moderate; with those changes, severe incomplete paralysis is the highest level, and complete paralysis is rated under the nerve's paralysis code.
- 0% — This 0% level applies when your neuritis of the long thoracic nerve amounts to mild incomplete paralysis of that nerve on your non-dominant (minor) arm: symptoms that are mostly sensory, with little loss of strength. Neuritis is rated on the same scale as incomplete paralysis of the nerve. Under 38 CFR 4.123, neuritis without organic changes (muscle wasting, lost reflexes, sensory loss) is rated no higher than moderate; with those changes, severe incomplete paralysis is the highest level, and complete paralysis is rated under the nerve's paralysis code.