Diagnostic Code 8207: Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy) Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Rating range
- 10% to 30%
- Rating levels
- 3
- Body system
- Neurological conditions
The VA rates Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy) under diagnostic code 8207 in 38 CFR § 4.124a. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 8207 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Incomplete, moderate paralysis of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve What raters look formoderate incomplete paralysis |
| 20% | Incomplete, severe paralysis of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve What raters look forsevere incomplete paralysis |
| 30% | Complete paralysis of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve What raters look forcomplete paralysis |
DC 8207 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 145 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 8207 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 25.5%, denied 63.4% and sent 11.0% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 8207 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Cranial Nerve Conditions. The Cranial Nerve Conditions condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Cranial Nerve Conditions appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 1,650 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Cranial Nerve Conditions, 2021 to 2026. The Cranial Nerve Conditions condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Cranial Nerve Conditions appeals generally rather than DC 8207 specifically. The DC 8207 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 8207?
Diagnostic code 8207 is the VA rating schedule entry for Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy), found in 38 CFR § 4.124a. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 8207?
DC 8207 provides ratings of 10%, 20%, 30%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 8207 require?
The 30% rating for Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy) requires: Complete paralysis of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 8207?
In 145 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 8207 from 2021 to 2026, 25.5% were granted, 63.4% denied and 11.0% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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