Diagnostic Code 8515: Median Nerve Paralysis (Carpal Tunnel) Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Rating range
- 10% to 70%
- Rating levels
- 7
- Body system
- Neurological conditions
The VA rates Median Nerve Paralysis (Carpal Tunnel) under diagnostic code 8515 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 8515 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Incomplete paralysis, mild (major or minor arm) What raters look formild incomplete paralysis; wholly sensory involvement is rated mild or at most moderate |
| 20% | Incomplete paralysis, moderate (minor arm) What raters look formoderate incomplete paralysis, minor arm |
| 30% | Incomplete paralysis, moderate (major arm) What raters look formoderate incomplete paralysis, major arm |
| 40% | Incomplete paralysis, severe (minor arm) What raters look forsevere incomplete paralysis, minor arm |
| 50% | Incomplete paralysis, severe (major arm) What raters look forsevere incomplete paralysis, major arm |
| 60% | Complete paralysis; the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand) (minor arm) What raters look forcomplete paralysis, minor arm; ape hand |
| 70% | Complete paralysis; the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand) (major arm) What raters look forcomplete paralysis, major arm; ape hand |
DC 8515 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 1,185 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 8515 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 37.4%, denied 53.8% and sent 8.9% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | 116 | 19.0% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 8515 rulings
Percentages use all 105 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate71.4%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened20.0%
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 8515 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 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
Other conditions rated under this code: Peripheral Neuropathy.
What happens to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 5,578 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 2021 to 2026. The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 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 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome appeals generally rather than DC 8515 specifically. The DC 8515 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 8515?
Diagnostic code 8515 is the VA rating schedule entry for Median Nerve Paralysis (Carpal Tunnel), 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 8515?
DC 8515 provides ratings of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 8515 require?
The 70% rating for Median Nerve Paralysis (Carpal Tunnel) requires: Complete paralysis; the hand inclined to the ulnar side, the index and middle fingers more extended than normally, considerable atrophy of the muscles of the thenar eminence, the thumb in the plane of the hand (ape hand) (major arm).
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 8515?
In 1,162 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 8515 from 2021 to 2026, 36.4% were granted, 54.6% denied and 9.0% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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