The VA rates diabetic peripheral neuropathy separately in each affected limb, typically between 10% and 80% depending on severity, and then combines that rating with your underlying diabetes rating using VA's combined ratings table. A veteran with neuropathy in both feet, for example, could have two separate leg ratings plus a bilateral factor added on top, all combined with the base diabetes evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7913. This guide breaks down exactly how the math works and what the VA looks for in 2026.
How VA Rates Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar. It most commonly affects the feet and legs first, then can progress to the hands and arms. Because it is a complication of diabetes, the VA treats it as a "secondary condition" and rates it separately from the diabetes rating itself, then combines the two.
Neuropathy in the legs is most often rated under Diagnostic Code 8520, which covers the sciatic nerve. Neuropathy in the arms is rated under the median nerve (8515), ulnar nerve (8516), or radial nerve (8514) codes, depending on which nerve is affected and the specific symptoms.
Each limb gets its own rating. If you have neuropathy in both feet, you get two separate ratings for DC 8520 (left and right), which are then combined using VA math and the bilateral factor, not simply added together.
Lower Extremity (Sciatic Nerve, DC 8520) Rating Levels
| Severity | Rating |
|---|
| Mild incomplete paralysis | 10% |
| Moderate incomplete paralysis | 20% |
| Moderately severe incomplete paralysis | 40% |
| Severe incomplete paralysis, with marked muscle atrophy | 60% |
| Complete paralysis (foot dangles and drops, no active movement) | 80% |
Other lower-extremity nerves (diagnostic codes 8521 through 8530, covering nerves like the external popliteal, internal popliteal, and posterior tibial) range from about 10% to 40% depending on which nerve is involved and how severe the damage is.
Upper Extremity Rating Levels
Upper-limb neuropathy ratings differ depending on whether the affected arm is your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) side.
| Nerve | Complete Paralysis | Severe | Moderate | Mild |
|---|
| Median nerve (DC 8515), major | 70% | 50% | 30% | 10% |
| Median nerve (DC 8515), minor | 60% | 40% | 20% | 10% |
| Ulnar nerve (DC 8516), major | 60% | 40% | 30% | 10% |
| Ulnar nerve (DC 8516), minor | 50% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
Most veterans with diabetic neuropathy have "incomplete paralysis," meaning some nerve function remains but sensation, strength, or reflexes are impaired. Complete paralysis ratings are reserved for the most severe cases where the limb has lost virtually all function.
How Multiple Neuropathy Ratings Combine
The VA does not add percentages together. It uses a combined ratings table that applies each additional rating to what is "left" of your whole-person capacity after prior ratings. For example, a 40% rating combined with a 20% rating results in about 52%, rounded to 50%, not 60%.
When both legs or both arms are affected, VA also applies the bilateral factor: an extra 10% of the combined value of the paired-limb ratings, added because a disability affecting both sides of the body limits function more than the same disability on one side.
Example: A veteran with moderate neuropathy (20%) in both feet would combine the two 20% ratings, then add the bilateral factor, landing around 38%, which rounds to 40%. That 40% neuropathy figure is then combined again with the veteran's diabetes rating under DC 7913 and any other complications, such as retinopathy or nephropathy.
VA Diabetes Rating (Diagnostic Code 7913) in 2026
Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes, so most veterans also carry a base diabetes rating. As of 2026, the criteria under DC 7913 have not changed:
| Rating | Requirements |
|---|
| 20% | Insulin and restricted diet, or oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet |
| 40% | Insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (medically prescribed avoidance of strenuous activity) |
| 60% | Insulin, restricted diet, regulation of activities, plus episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year, or twice-monthly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not independently be compensable |
| 100% | More than one daily insulin injection, restricted diet, regulation of activities, plus episodes requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly provider visits, plus progressive weight and strength loss or compensable complications |
Complications like neuropathy, retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disease are rated separately and then combined with the diabetes rating, unless they were already used to justify a 100% rating.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability pay increased by 2.8% in the 2026 cost of living adjustment. Monthly payments below are for a single veteran with no dependents.
| Combined Rating | Monthly Payment (2026) |
|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Veterans rated 30% or higher can receive additional monthly compensation for a spouse, children, or dependent parents. At 10% and 20%, dependents do not increase the payment.
How to File a Claim for Diabetic Neuropathy
- Get a current diagnosis. Your VA or private doctor needs to document diabetic peripheral neuropathy specifically, including which limbs are affected and the severity of nerve damage.
- Establish service connection for diabetes first. Neuropathy is a secondary condition, so you generally need diabetes already service-connected, or you file both together as part of the same claim.
- Request a Diabetic Sensory-Motor Peripheral Neuropathy Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). Your treating provider or a VA examiner completes this form, which documents reflexes, sensory testing, muscle strength, and pain in each limb.
- File your claim through VA.gov. Submit VA Form 21-526EZ online, by mail, or with help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO). Include medical records, the DBQ, and a nexus statement connecting the neuropathy to your service-connected diabetes.
- Attend your Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. The VA examiner will test reflexes, sensation, and strength in each affected limb to determine the severity level used for rating.
- Track your claim status through your VA.gov account. Most claims take several months to process.
If your neuropathy worsens over time, you can file for an increased rating with updated medical evidence showing the change in severity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest VA rating for diabetic neuropathy?
A single limb with complete paralysis under DC 8520 can be rated up to 80%. Upper extremity complete paralysis of the major median nerve can reach 70%. When multiple limbs are affected and combined with the bilateral factor and the base diabetes rating, a veteran's overall combined disability rating can reach 100%.
Does diabetic neuropathy count as a separate disability from diabetes?
Yes. Diabetes is rated under DC 7913, and neuropathy in each limb is rated separately under nerve-specific codes like 8520 (legs) or 8515/8516 (arms). The ratings are combined, not added, using VA's combined ratings table.
Can I get a rating for neuropathy in just my feet?
Yes. Many veterans first develop diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the feet before it spreads elsewhere. Each foot is rated separately under DC 8520, then combined with the bilateral factor if both feet are affected.
Do I need a nexus letter to claim diabetic neuropathy?
If your diabetes is already service-connected, VA generally accepts neuropathy as a secondary condition once medical evidence confirms the nerve damage is caused by the diabetes. A nexus letter from your doctor strengthens the claim, especially if there is any ambiguity about the cause.
How often does VA reevaluate diabetic neuropathy ratings?
VA can schedule future exams to check whether your condition has improved, worsened, or stayed the same, particularly for ratings that are not marked as permanent and total. If your symptoms progress, you can also proactively file for an increased rating.
Is diabetic neuropathy considered a presumptive condition?
Type 2 diabetes itself is presumptive for veterans with qualifying Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other toxic exposure history. Neuropathy caused by that diabetes is then rated as a secondary condition, not a separate presumptive condition on its own.
Not sure how diabetic neuropathy affects your overall VA rating or what other benefits you might qualify for? Use the free Benefits Navigator screener to check your eligibility across VA disability and other assistance programs in one place.
