What rates 60% for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 60% rating for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) requires: Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Severe, with marked muscular atrophy."

What rates 40% for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 40% rating for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) requires: Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Moderately severe."

What rates 20% for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 20% rating for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) requires: Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Moderate."

What rates 10% for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 10% rating for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) requires: Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Mild."

What happens during a C&P exam for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

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Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange)?

Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) (DC 8520) is rated at 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 10% under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520. Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Paralysis of: Complete; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost." Major and Minor extremity rate identically for lower extremity sciatic nerve.

Q: What rates 80% for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 80% rating for Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) requires: Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Paralysis of: Complete; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost." Major and Minor extremity rate identically for lower extremity sciatic nerve.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) claim includes: Service treatment records showing injury or complaints; Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT); Range of motion measurements; Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin; Buddy statements describing limitations. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 8520 | 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 | 

✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.124a (Neurological conditions and convulsive disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team

Early-Onset Peripheral Neuropathy (Agent Orange) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8520 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 across 5 severity tiers (80% / 60% / 40% / 20% / 10%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

OVERVIEW

Peripheral neuropathy that manifested within a year of herbicide exposure or within one year of last exposure. Presumptive for Agent Orange-exposed veterans. Causes numbness, tingling, burning pain in extremities.

RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)

80%

Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Paralysis of: Complete; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost." Major and Minor extremity rate identically for lower extremity sciatic nerve.

60%

Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Severe, with marked muscular atrophy."

40%

Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Moderately severe."

20%

Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Moderate."

10%

Per § 4.124a DC 8520 verbatim: "Incomplete: Mild."

KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER

-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints

-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)

-Range of motion measurements

-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin

-Buddy statements describing limitations

-Prescription history

-Physical therapy records

-Employment impact documentation

C&P EXAM TIPS (6)

1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

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SOURCES & EDITORIAL

Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.124a (Neurological conditions and convulsive disorders). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.

→ View § 4.124a on eCFR → Cornell Law mirror → Editorial Standards → Suggest a correction

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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