What rates 30% for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 (DC 8510), a 30% rating for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) requires: Moderate incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.

What rates 40% for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 (DC 8510), a 40% rating for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) requires: Moderate incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. OR severe incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.

What rates 50% for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 (DC 8510), a 50% rating for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) requires: Severe incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity.

What happens during a C&P exam for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy)?

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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Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy)?

Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) (DC 8510) is rated at 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510. Mild incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular group (C5-C6) — sensory disturbance with minimal motor weakness. Same 20% rating for both dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremity.

Q: What rates 20% for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 (DC 8510), a 20% rating for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) requires: Mild incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular group (C5-C6) — sensory disturbance with minimal motor weakness. Same 20% rating for both dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremity.

Q: What rates 60% for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 (DC 8510), a 60% rating for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) requires: Complete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a: "all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected."

Q: What rates 70% for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510?

Under 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 (DC 8510), a 70% rating for Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) requires: Complete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a: "all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected."

Q: What evidence do I need for a Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) VA claim?

Key evidence for a Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) 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 851038 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Diagnostic Code

DC 8510

38 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Rating Range

20–70%

6 severity tiers

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.124a

Upper Radicular Group Neuropathy (Erb's Palsy) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 8510 of 38 CFR § 4.124a, DC 8510 across 6 severity tiers (20% / 30% / 40% / 50% / 60%…). 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

Injury to upper brachial plexus (C5-C6) causing shoulder and elbow weakness with characteristic waiter tip posture.

Rating Criteria

20%

Mild incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular group (C5-C6) — sensory disturbance with minimal motor weakness. Same 20% rating for both dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) extremity.

30%

Moderate incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.

40%

Moderate incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. OR severe incomplete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity.

50%

Severe incomplete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity.

60%

Complete paralysis — non-dominant (minor) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a: "all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected."

70%

Complete paralysis — dominant (major) extremity. Verbatim § 4.124a: "all shoulder and elbow movements lost or severely affected, hand and wrist movements not affected."

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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