What rates 20% for Cauda Equina Syndrome under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 20% rating for Cauda Equina Syndrome requires: Moderate residual incomplete paralysis — daily symptoms, mild motor weakness in sciatic distribution, partial sensory loss.

What rates 40% for Cauda Equina Syndrome under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 40% rating for Cauda Equina Syndrome requires: Moderately severe residual paralysis — marked motor weakness, significant atrophy, gait disturbance.

What happens during a C&P exam for Cauda Equina Syndrome?

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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Cauda Equina Syndrome

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Cauda Equina Syndrome?

Cauda Equina Syndrome (DC 8520) is rated at 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520. Mild residual incomplete lower-extremity paralysis after cauda-equina injury — intermittent sciatic-distribution paresthesia, no objective motor weakness.

Q: What rates 10% for Cauda Equina Syndrome under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 10% rating for Cauda Equina Syndrome requires: Mild residual incomplete lower-extremity paralysis after cauda-equina injury — intermittent sciatic-distribution paresthesia, no objective motor weakness.

Q: What rates 60% for Cauda Equina Syndrome under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 60% rating for Cauda Equina Syndrome requires: Severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy — sciatic-distribution motor loss approaching but not reaching the "foot dangles and drops" complete pattern.

Q: What rates 80% for Cauda Equina Syndrome under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 (DC 8520), a 80% rating for Cauda Equina Syndrome requires: Complete paralysis. Verbatim § 4.124a DC 8520: "the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost." For cauda-equina pattern this represents bilateral or unilateral total loss of sciatic-territory function.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Cauda Equina Syndrome VA claim?

Key evidence for a Cauda Equina Syndrome 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 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team

Cauda Equina Syndrome is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8520 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8520 across 5 severity tiers (10% / 20% / 40% / 60% / 80%). 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

Compression of the cauda equina nerve bundle causing severe low back pain, bilateral leg weakness, saddle anesthesia, and bowel/bladder dysfunction.

RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)

10%

Mild residual incomplete lower-extremity paralysis after cauda-equina injury — intermittent sciatic-distribution paresthesia, no objective motor weakness.

20%

Moderate residual incomplete paralysis — daily symptoms, mild motor weakness in sciatic distribution, partial sensory loss.

40%

Moderately severe residual paralysis — marked motor weakness, significant atrophy, gait disturbance.

60%

Severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy — sciatic-distribution motor loss approaching but not reaching the "foot dangles and drops" complete pattern.

80%

Complete paralysis. Verbatim § 4.124a DC 8520: "the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost." For cauda-equina pattern this represents bilateral or unilateral total loss of sciatic-territory function.

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 2026-05-15 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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