Diagnostic Code 8524: Internal Popliteal (Tibial) Nerve Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Rating range
- 10% to 40%
- Rating levels
- 4
- Body system
- Neurological conditions
The VA rates Internal Popliteal (Tibial) Nerve under diagnostic code 8524 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 8524 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Incomplete paralysis, mild What raters look formild incomplete paralysis |
| 20% | Incomplete paralysis, moderate What raters look formoderate incomplete paralysis |
| 30% | Incomplete paralysis, severe What raters look forsevere incomplete paralysis |
| 40% | Complete paralysis; plantar flexion lost, frank adduction of foot impossible, flexion and separation of toes abolished; no muscle in sole can move; in lesions of the nerve high in popliteal fossa, plantar flexion of foot is lost What raters look forcomplete paralysis; plantar flexion lost; no muscle in sole can move |
DC 8524 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 106 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 8524 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 70.8%, denied 22.6% and sent 6.6% 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 8524 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 Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out.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 Radiculopathy. The Radiculopathy condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Radiculopathy appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 46,305 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Radiculopathy, 2021 to 2026. The Radiculopathy 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 Radiculopathy appeals generally rather than DC 8524 specifically. The DC 8524 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 8524?
Diagnostic code 8524 is the VA rating schedule entry for Internal Popliteal (Tibial) Nerve, 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 8524?
DC 8524 provides ratings of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 8524 require?
The 40% rating for Internal Popliteal (Tibial) Nerve requires: Complete paralysis; plantar flexion lost, frank adduction of foot impossible, flexion and separation of toes abolished; no muscle in sole can move; in lesions of the nerve high in popliteal fossa, plantar flexion of foot is lost.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 8524?
In 103 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 8524 from 2021 to 2026, 69.9% were granted, 23.3% denied and 6.8% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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