EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.124a (Neurological conditions and convulsive disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8516 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 across 6 severity tiers (10% / 20% / 30% / 40% / 50%…). 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 ulnar nerve at the elbow causing numbness in the ring-3 and little fingers, grip weakness, and hand clumsiness.
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
10%
Mild incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve — sensory disturbance over ulnar 1.5 fingers, intermittent paresthesia with elbow flexion. Same 10% rating for both dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremity.
20%
Moderate incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.
30%
Moderate incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. OR severe incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.
40%
Severe incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity.
50%
Complete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a: "the 'griffin claw' deformity, due to flexor contraction of ring and little fingers, atrophy very marked in dorsal interspace and thenar and hypothenar eminences; loss of extension of ring and little fingers cannot spread the fingers (or reverse), cannot adduct the thumb; flexion of wrist weakened."
60%
Complete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a anatomic findings as above.
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