Rating Schedule for The Central Nervous System
The brain itself and the spinal cord.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
If the Veteran has residual symptoms that are higher than the prescribed minimum rating. The Veteran will receive the higher of the rating, NOT the minimum rating plus separate evaluations for the residual symptom(s)!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
When a schedule provides a minimum rating, the Veteran may not necessarily be entitled to it. In order to be eligible for the minimum rating. The Veteran MUST have a symptom of the condition. e.g. if the Veteran has been diagnosed with a condition but they no longer have ANY symptoms. They will NOT get the minimum rating, instead a 0% will be assigned!
Conditions of the Brain
Things that affect or take place in the ole control room.
NOTE:
For information on Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) click HERE.
8004 Parkinson’s Disease (Paralysis Agitans)
Brain cells die, resulting in difficulties controlling bodily movements.
This condition is presumptive under several different presumptive criteria:
Symptoms may include but are not limited too:
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 30% |
Miniumum rating. |
Stroke
(8007 Embolism of the blood Vessels in the brain) When a blood clot formed elsewhere in the body gets stuck in a blood vessel in the brain.
(8008 Thrombosis of the blood vessels in the brain) When a blood clot forms within the brain itself.
(8009 Hemorrhage from the blood vessels in the brain) Brain bleed, when a blood vessel bursts in the brain.
Common symptoms include:
Nerve paralysis; and
Weakness.
Quasi Presumptive:
If service-connection has been established for Hypertension AND a stroke occurred AFTER the hypertension condition manifested. The VA is to presume the stroke is secondary to the hypertension (M21 V.iii.5.3.g.).
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Minimum rating. |
| 100% | For 6 months after recovery. |
| 100% | Active condition. |
8014 Meningovascular Syphilis (MVS)
Syphilis that has infected the lining of the brain and its blood vessels.
Symptoms may include:
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| ?% |
No prescribed rating. Rated on symptoms. |
8020 Abscess of the Brain (Cerebral Abscess, Puss in Brain)
Pus in the brain due to infection.
Symptoms may include:
Fatigue;
Nerve impairment; and
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Minimum rating. |
| 100% | Active condition. |
8025 Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
Caused by a breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles.
Symptoms may include:
Difficulty eating;
Difficulty breathing;
Fatigue; and
Nerve impairment.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 30% |
Minimum rating. |
8046 Cerebral Arteriosclerosis
Decreased blood flow due to plaque build up in the blood vessels of the brain.
Symptoms may include:
Difficulty speaking;
Loss of control of facial muscles; and
Temporary loss of vision in one eye.
PYRAMIDING NOTE:
Nerve related symptoms CAN receive a separate ratings.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Veteran has subjective symptoms like dizziness, headache, insomnia, irritability, and tinnitus. |
Conditions of the Spinal Cord
The noodles going down your spine.
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8010 Inflammation of the Spinal Cord (Myelitis)
Inflammation of the spinal cord which can disrupt the normal responses from the brain to the rest of the body,
Symptoms may include:
Nerve issues; and
Weakness.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Minimum rating. |
8011 Polio (Anterior Poliomyelitis, Heine-Medin Disease)
Virus which causes weakness and muscle loss.
Symptoms may include:
Nerve paralysis; and
Weakness.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Minimum rating. |
| 100% | Active condition. |
8015 Tabes Dorsalis
A slow degeneration of the nerve cells and nerve fibers that carry sensory information to the brain.
Symptoms may include:
Muscle weakness;
Nerve issues; and
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| ?% |
No prescribed rating. Rated on severity of convulsions, paralysis, visual impairment, etc. |
8024 Syringomyelia
Cyst that forms in the spinal cord.
Symptoms may include:
Nerve issues; and
Weakness.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 30% |
Minimum rating. |
Epilepsy and Seizures
Epilepsy is defined as a condition that involves having repeated seizure activity.
Seizures are periods of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The number of symptoms a person who experiences epilepsy and seizures varies but can include:
Anger;
Confusion;
Drooling;
Falling down;
Fear;
Hallucinations;
Inappropriate behavior;
Mumbling;
Severe shaking of the body;
Sweating; and
Vomiting.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Often those who have epilepsy also have an accompanying mental disorder. If the mental disorder is only present during a seizure then the mental disorder CANNOT get it's own individual rating. However, if the Mental disorder persists between seizures then it CAN get it's own individual rating!
If the above condition is meet and the mental disorder that manifests is a personality disorder. The VA will grant a rating - coding it under Dementia.
In order for a Veteran to get a diagnosis for epilepsy the Veteran MUST have a seizure witnessed by a physician, OR verified by a physician. Verification can be done by an electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures electrical activity in the brain.
Rating Seizures
There are two degrees of severity for seizures:
Minor - seizure affects portions of the brain. Consciousness may be loss temporarily. Symptoms might include mumbling, muscle spasms, blinking rhythmically, staring or nodding of the head, or falling down.
Major - seizure affects the entire brain. Usually results in the Veteran losing consciousness during the seizure while their body convulses uncontrollably.
| Rating |
Minor Seizures |
Major Seizures |
|---|---|---|
| 10% |
Requires constant medication or long history of seizures. | "" |
| 20% | 2 in past 6 months. | 1 in 2 years. |
| 40% | 5-8 per week. | 2 in a year. |
| 60% | 9-10 per week. |
3 in a year. |
| 80% | 11 or more per week. | 4-11 in a year. |
| 100% | N/A | 12 or more in a year. |
If the condition can be rated under either major or minor seizures. The Veteran will get the higher of the 2.
8910 Grand Mal Epilepsy (Tonic-Clonic Seizure)
A type of seizure that involves a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions.
Rated under Major Seizures.
8911 Petit Mal Epilepsy (Absence Seizure)
A type of seizure that involves brief, sudden lapses in attention.
Rated under Minor Seizures.
8912 Focal Motor Epilepsy, Jacksonian Seizure (Jacksonian March, Simple Partial Seizure), Sensory Epilepsy (Focal Seizures)
Main symptoms involve muscle activity, such as jerking, loss of muscle tone or repeated movements.
Rated under Minor Seizures.
8913 Automatic Epilepsy (Diencephalic Epilepsy, Vasomotor Epilepsy)
Affects numerous parts of the brain at the same time, but not the entire brain.
Rated under Minor Seizures OR Major Seizures.
8914 Psychomotor Epilepsy
Epilepsy that is typically limited to the temporal lobe of the brain.
Rated under Minor Seizures OR Major Seizures.
Will be rated under major if:
Characterized by automatic states and/or generalized convulsions with unconsciousness.
Will be rated under minor if:
Characterized by brief transient episodes of random motor movements, hallucinations, perceptual illusions, abnormalities of thinking, memory or mood, or autonomic disturbances.
8108 Narcolepsy (Excessive Uncontrollable Daytime Sleepiness)
While it is not a seizure related disorder.
It is rated under under Minor Seizures.
In essence, each episode counts as a seizure for the purposes of rating.
Miscellaneous Nervous System Diseases
Diseases that can affect both the brain and the spinal cord.
8017 Lou Gehrig’s Disease (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS)
A fatal motor neuron disease.
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITION:
This condition is Presumptive if diagnosed ANYTIME after separation!
Auxiliary benefits
Your dependents are entitled to Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA);
You are entitled to VA automobile allowance and adaptive equipment;
You are entitled to Specially Adapted Housing grant; and
You may be entitled to Special Monthly Compensation depending upon the progression of the disease.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 100% |
Current diagnosis. |
8018 Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Disease that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord.
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITION:
This condition is Presumptive if it is diagnosed within SEVEN YEARS of separation!
Common secondary conditions:
Less common secondary conditions:
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 30% |
Minimum rating. |
8100 Migraine Headaches (Tension Headaches, Headaches, etc.)
All varieties of headaches are rated under the migraine schedule.
Ratings are based upon the severity of the headaches as well as their frequency.
The key word the schedule uses is "Prostrating":
Prostrating: The headache is so bad that your when it starts your day is done. You may need to take medication, take the day off and isolate, or seek medical attention. If medication helps, it might have the negative effect of making you too drowsy to do any work or other activities.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If the severity is not prostrating then you will NOT receive a compensational rating!
It is important that the Veteran properly document the frequency and severity of their headaches. A lot of Veterans have found the use of various headache tracking/diary apps very helpful in this regard.
You may also find using Personal or Buddy statements helpful in showing the severity and frequency of your headaches
PRESUMPTIVE CONDITION:
This condition is Presumptive if it is diagnosed within 1 year of separation AND severity rates at least 10%!
| Rating |
Frequency of Prostrating Events |
|---|---|
| 0% |
Once in 3 months or less. |
| 10% | Once in 2 months. |
| 30% | At least once a month. |
| 50% | Very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. |
8106 Huntington’s Disease (Huntington's Chorea)
A genetic form of chorea that normally does not become symptomatic until later in life.
NOTE:
One of the rare exceptions to genetic disorders that can be rated.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% |
Mild. |
| 30% | Moderate. |
| 50% | Moderately severe. |
| 80% | Severe. |
| 100% | Progressive grave. |
Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQs)
To get an idea of how a C&P exam will be conducted it is recommended that the Veteran look at the applicable DBQ.
Veteran's may ask a physician to complete a DBQ on their behalf to submit with their claim. For more information on DBQs click HERE.
Having Trouble Finding Your Condition?
Click HERE to view the Master Condition List.