What happens during a C&P exam for Spinal Cord Injury Residuals?

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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Spinal Cord Injury Residuals

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Spinal Cord Injury Residuals?

Spinal Cord Injury Residuals (DC 8024) is rated at 0% under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8024. Spinal cord injury (SCI) does not have a dedicated diagnostic code in 38 CFR. Rating is built from: (1) the underlying spine condition under § 4.71a (General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine — cervical/thoracic/lumbar), (2) separately rating each neurological residual under its applicable DC (motor weakness via § 4.124a 8500-8730 peripheral-nerve series by territory; bowel/bladder under § 4.115a/b; spasticity under DC 8024 by analogy; sexual dysfunction under DC 7522 + SMC(k); decubitus ulcers under § 4.118; autonomic dysreflexia from T6-or-above lesions), and (3) combining all under § 4.25. Where intramedullary findings (syrinx, post-traumatic syringomyelia) are documented, DC 8024 (syringomyelia) applies directly with minimum 30%.

Q: What rates 0% for Spinal Cord Injury Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8024?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8024 (DC 8024), a 0% rating for Spinal Cord Injury Residuals requires: Spinal cord injury (SCI) does not have a dedicated diagnostic code in 38 CFR. Rating is built from: (1) the underlying spine condition under § 4.71a (General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine — cervical/thoracic/lumbar), (2) separately rating each neurological residual under its applicable DC (motor weakness via § 4.124a 8500-8730 peripheral-nerve series by territory; bowel/bladder under § 4.115a/b; spasticity under DC 8024 by analogy; sexual dysfunction under DC 7522 + SMC(k); decubitus ulcers under § 4.118; autonomic dysreflexia from T6-or-above lesions), and (3) combining all under § 4.25. Where intramedullary findings (syrinx, post-traumatic syringomyelia) are documented, DC 8024 (syringomyelia) applies directly with minimum 30%.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Spinal Cord Injury Residuals VA claim?

Key evidence for a Spinal Cord Injury Residuals 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 802438 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Diagnostic Code

DC 8024

38 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Rating Range

0–0%

1 severity tier

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Spinal Cord Injury Residuals is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8024 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8024 across 1 severity tier (0%). 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

Neurological deficits following spinal cord damage including paralysis, sensory loss, and autonomic dysfunction.

Rating Criteria

Spinal cord injury (SCI) does not have a dedicated diagnostic code in 38 CFR. Rating is built from: (1) the underlying spine condition under § 4.71a (General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine — cervical/thoracic/lumbar), (2) separately rating each neurological residual under its applicable DC (motor weakness via § 4.124a 8500-8730 peripheral-nerve series by territory; bowel/bladder under § 4.115a/b; spasticity under DC 8024 by analogy; sexual dysfunction under DC 7522 + SMC(k); decubitus ulcers under § 4.118; autonomic dysreflexia from T6-or-above lesions), and (3) combining all under § 4.25. Where intramedullary findings (syrinx, post-traumatic syringomyelia) are documented, DC 8024 (syringomyelia) applies directly with minimum 30%.

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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