Meralgia Paresthetica VA Disability Rating is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8529 of 38 C.F.R. § 4.124a across 5 severity tiers (80% -- Complete paralysis (major nerve, dominant) / 60% -- Severe incomplete paralysis / 40% -- Moderate incomplete paralysis / 20% -- Mild incomplete paralysis / 10% -- Mild (lower extremity)). 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.
Meralgia paresthetica (lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, DC 8529) causes numbness and burning pain in the outer thigh. Rated at 10% for neuritis/neuralgia. Common from body armor, equipment belts, and weight gain.
Meralgia Paresthetica (DC 8529) is evaluated under 38 C.F.R. § 4.124a using the neurological rating framework. Because it is rated by analogy to the general schedule, the 5 levels below describe the body-system criteria the VA applies — the percentage assigned to Meralgia Paresthetica depends on the specific findings (range of motion, frequency, severity, or functional loss) documented at the C&P exam and in the medical record.
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.