EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Guillain-Barré Syndrome (Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.124a (Neurological conditions and convulsive disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8011 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8011 across 2 severity tiers (10% / 100%). 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
Acute autoimmune disorder attacking the peripheral nervous system causing rapid-onset muscle weakness and potentially paralysis.
RATING CRITERIA (2 LEVELS)
10%
Minimum residual rating per § 4.124a DC 8011 framework (by analogy) once the acute febrile phase has resolved.
100%
During the acute phase (active progressive neurological illness, typically with ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, or severe ascending paralysis), GBS is rated 100% by analogy to DC 8011 active febrile disease. After acute resolution and stabilization, rate the residuals — typically peripheral motor or sensory deficits — separately under § 4.124a 8500-8730 by territory, plus any persistent autonomic dysfunction, fatigue, or chronic-pain syndrome, combined under § 4.25.
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