EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Cervical Radiculopathy
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.124a (Neurological conditions and convulsive disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Cervical Radiculopathy is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5243 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 across 6 severity tiers (20% / 30% / 40% / 50% / 60%…). 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 cervical nerve roots causing radiating arm pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the upper extremities
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
20%
Mild incomplete paralysis of the affected radicular group — sensory disturbance (paresthesia, dermatomal hypesthesia), minimal motor weakness on EMG/NCS. Same 20% rating for both dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremity.
30%
Moderate incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.
40%
Moderate incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. (Equivalently: severe incomplete paralysis of the non-dominant extremity also rates 40%.)
50%
Severe incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity.
60%
Complete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity. Specific findings depend on radicular group: DC 8510 = all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected; DC 8511 = adduction, abduction, rotation of arm, flexion of elbow, and extension of wrist lost or severely affected; DC 8512 = all intrinsic muscles of hand and some/all flexors of wrist and fingers paralyzed (substantial loss of use of hand).
70%
Complete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. Specific findings as above per radicular group.
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.
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.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026