Claim Raven explanation
What this means
Neuritis is evaluated using the scale for the affected nerve, with limits described in this section. Findings such as loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbance, and constant pain help characterize the disability.
The applicable maximum can differ when the specified organic changes are absent, and the rule has a particular provision for sciatic involvement. The nerve and actual examination findings therefore matter.
How this helps your claim
This helps you understand why pain alone does not describe the entire nerve-rating question. Compare the objective findings and functional loss with the code for the nerve involved.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Identify the affected nerve and the medical diagnosis of neuritis.
- Find reflex, muscle, strength, and sensory examination findings.
- Check the rating scale and limits applicable to those findings.
Match the examination to the affected nerve
Neuritis evaluation depends on the nerve involved and the findings that characterize the impairment. Reflex changes, atrophy, sensory disturbance and pain can serve different roles in that description. Keep the examination's actual findings separate from a general report of nerve pain.
Read the maximum evaluation provisions with the presence or absence of the stated organic changes. The sciatic provision has particular treatment that should not be transferred automatically to another nerve. The diagnosis, anatomical distribution and severity findings all need to fit together.
Does constant pain alone establish the highest neuritis level?
No. The applicable nerve scale and regulatory limits still govern. Pain can be important, but the rule distinguishes circumstances involving additional organic findings. A severity adjective in a personal statement does not replace the clinical findings needed to apply those distinctions.
Official regulatory text
38 CFR § 4.123
eCFR snapshot: September 3, 2026. Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The full section and its tables are included below.
§ 4.123 Neuritis, cranial or peripheral.
Neuritis, cranial or peripheral, characterized by loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances, and constant pain, at times excruciating, is to be rated on the scale provided for injury of the nerve involved, with a maximum equal to severe, incomplete, paralysis. See nerve involved for diagnostic code number and rating. The maximum rating which may be assigned for neuritis not characterized by organic changes referred to in this section will be that for moderate, or with sciatic nerve involvement, for moderately severe, incomplete paralysis.
Related references
- 38 CFR § 4.1: What a VA disability rating measures
- 38 CFR § 3.159: VA duty to assist: records and examinations
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