Diagnostic Code 8526: Anterior Crural (Femoral) Nerve Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.124a
- Rating range
- 10% to 40%
- Rating levels
- 4
- Body system
- Neurological conditions
The VA rates Anterior Crural (Femoral) Nerve under diagnostic code 8526 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 8526 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; paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles What raters look forcomplete paralysis; paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles |
DC 8526 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 3,685 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 8526 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 33.5%, denied 58.0% and sent 8.4% 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 | 357 | 24.1% |
| 20 percent | 564 | 48.2% |
| 30 percent | 180 | 72.2% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 8526 rulings
Percentages use all 311 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 adequate68.8%
- No exam problem recorded17.7%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened10.6%
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 8526 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 Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out.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 8526 specifically. The DC 8526 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 8526?
Diagnostic code 8526 is the VA rating schedule entry for Anterior Crural (Femoral) 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 8526?
DC 8526 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 8526 require?
The 40% rating for Anterior Crural (Femoral) Nerve requires: Complete paralysis; paralysis of quadriceps extensor muscles.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 8526?
In 3,595 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 8526 from 2021 to 2026, 32.4% were granted, 59.0% denied and 8.6% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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