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Radiculopathy is pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels along a nerve because the nerve root is pinched or irritated where it leaves the spine. In the legs it is usually called sciatica. In the arms it comes from the neck.
VA rates it in addition to your back or neck rating, and separately for each arm or leg. It is one of the most frequently missed ratings, because veterans talk about their back and never mention what happens in their legs.
The short version
- Radiculopathy is rated separately from the spine, and separately for each limb.
- Leg symptoms are usually rated under the sciatic nerve: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or 80%.
- Arm symptoms are rated higher for your dominant arm.
- If symptoms are only sensory (numbness, tingling, pain), the rating is mild or at most moderate.
- Two affected legs or two affected arms get the bilateral factor.
On this page
Legs: the sciatic nerve, Diagnostic Code 8520
| Rating | Level of incomplete paralysis |
|---|---|
| 10% | Mild |
| 20% | Moderate |
| 40% | Moderately severe |
| 60% | Severe, with marked muscular atrophy |
| 80% | Complete paralysis: the foot dangles and drops, with no active movement of the muscles below the knee |
Other leg nerves have their own codes. The femoral nerve, which affects the front of the thigh, is rated at 10% for mild, 20% for moderate, 30% for severe, and 40% for complete paralysis.
Arms: the radicular groups, Diagnostic Codes 8510 to 8512
Arm ratings depend on whether it is your dominant (“major”) or non-dominant (“minor”) arm.
| Level | Dominant arm | Non-dominant arm |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 20% | 20% |
| Moderate | 40% | 30% |
| Severe | 50% | 40% |
| Complete paralysis | 70% | 60% |
What mild, moderate and severe mean
The regulation does not define these words precisely. In practice, examiners and raters look at:
- Sensory symptoms: pain, numbness, tingling, burning
- Reflexes: reduced or absent at the knee or ankle
- Strength: weakness on testing, foot drop
- Muscle wasting: visible atrophy, measured by comparing limb circumference
- How constant the symptoms are
One rule is written down: when the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should be mild, or at most moderate. To reach moderately severe or higher, the record generally needs to show loss of strength, reduced reflexes, or atrophy.
Why it adds so much
Take a veteran with a 20% lower back rating who also has moderate sciatica in both legs.
| Condition | Rating |
|---|---|
| Lumbar spine | 20% |
| Left leg radiculopathy | 20% |
| Right leg radiculopathy | 20% |
The two legs combine to 36, and the bilateral factor adds 3.6, giving 39.6. Combined with the 20% back, the result is about 52, which rounds to 50%. With only the back rated, the same veteran is at 20%. Check your own figures in the calculator, and see VA math.
Getting radiculopathy rated
Radiculopathy is nearly always claimed as secondary to a service-connected back or neck condition. You need:
- A service-connected spine condition, or a spine claim filed at the same time
- A diagnosis of radiculopathy, ideally supported by a nerve conduction study, EMG, or MRI showing nerve root involvement
- Medical evidence linking the two, which is usually straightforward when imaging shows the compressed nerve root
When you file, list it separately: “Radiculopathy, left lower extremity, secondary to lumbar spine condition,” and the same for the right if both are affected. See how to file.
At the C&P exam
The back and neck exam forms have a section on radiculopathy. The examiner should test sensation, reflexes, and strength in each limb and record the severity for each side. Make sure you:
- Describe each limb separately. Which leg, how far down it travels, and what it feels like.
- Say how often. Constant, daily, or with certain movements.
- Mention weakness. Tripping, a leg giving way, dropping things, trouble with grip.
- Mention numbness in specific areas, such as the outside of the foot or certain fingers.
- Bring test results from any nerve study.
If the examiner marks “no radiculopathy” and you have symptoms, that is a reason to challenge the exam. See the C&P exam guide.
Related conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy from diabetes is rated using the same nerve codes, but its cause is different. It is secondary to diabetes, not to the spine.
- Bowel or bladder problems caused by a spine condition are rated separately again.
- Erectile dysfunction from nerve involvement can qualify for Special Monthly Compensation.
If it was missed
If you are rated for your back or neck and have had limb symptoms all along, you can file a claim for radiculopathy as a secondary condition at any time. If a past exam recorded the symptoms and VA never rated them, ask an accredited representative to look at the decision, since an earlier effective date may be possible. See secondary conditions and back ratings.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.