EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Deep Peroneal (Anterior Tibial) Nerve Paralysis
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.124a (Neurological conditions and convulsive disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Deep Peroneal (Anterior Tibial) Nerve Paralysis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8523 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8523 across 4 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 20% / 30%). 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
Paralysis of the deep peroneal nerve causing foot and toe dorsiflexion weakness (foot drop component).
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
0%
Mild incomplete paralysis of the deep peroneal nerve — minimal dorsiflexion weakness, sensory disturbance over first dorsal webspace.
10%
Moderate incomplete paralysis — moderate dorsiflexion weakness on objective testing.
20%
Severe incomplete paralysis — marked dorsiflexion weakness approaching foot drop.
30%
Complete paralysis. Verbatim § 4.124a: "dorsal flexion of foot lost."
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