What rates 20% for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 (DC 8516), a 20% rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) requires: Moderate incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.

What rates 30% for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 (DC 8516), a 30% rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) requires: Moderate incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. OR severe incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.

What rates 40% for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 (DC 8516), a 40% rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) requires: Severe incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity.

What rates 60% for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 (DC 8516), a 60% rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) requires: Complete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a anatomic findings as above.

What happens during a C&P exam for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment)?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

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Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment)?

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) (DC 8516) is rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516. 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.

Q: What rates 10% for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 (DC 8516), a 10% rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) requires: 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.

Q: What rates 50% for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8516 (DC 8516), a 50% rating for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) requires: 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."

Q: What evidence do I need for a Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Ulnar Nerve Entrapment) claim includes: 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. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 851638 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Diagnostic Code

DC 8516

38 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Rating Range

10–60%

6 severity tiers

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.124a

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.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

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

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.

03Key Evidence

—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

04C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

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 against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.

View § 4.124a on eCFR →Cornell Law mirror →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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