The VA rates peripheral neuropathy from 10% to 80% per affected limb, based on whether the nerve damage is mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, or complete. Each nerve and each limb gets its own rating, then the VA combines them using its combined ratings table (not simple addition), and adds a bilateral factor if both arms or both legs are affected. A veteran with neuropathy in both feet from service-connected diabetes could end up with a combined rating well above what a single-limb rating alone would suggest.
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness, most often in the hands and feet. For veterans, it's commonly linked to Type 2 diabetes, Agent Orange exposure, or direct nerve injury during service. Because the VA rates each nerve separately, understanding how the schedule works can make a real difference in your combined disability rating and monthly payment.
How the VA Rates Peripheral Neuropathy
The VA doesn't have one single rating for "peripheral neuropathy." Instead, it rates each affected peripheral nerve individually under 38 CFR Part 4, using diagnostic codes specific to that nerve (sciatic, median, ulnar, radial, peroneal, tibial, and others). The rating within each nerve's code depends on severity:
| Severity Level | Typical Rating Range |
|---|
| Mild incomplete paralysis | 10% |
| Moderate incomplete paralysis | 20% to 30% |
| Moderately severe incomplete paralysis | 30% to 40% |
| Severe incomplete paralysis | 40% to 60% |
| Complete paralysis | 60% to 80% |
The exact percentage for each category depends on which nerve is affected, since some nerves (like the sciatic) support more function than others (like a small sensory nerve in the foot).
Common Diagnostic Codes
| Nerve | Diagnostic Code | Location Affected |
|---|
| Sciatic nerve | 8520 | Leg, hip to foot |
| Common peroneal (external popliteal) | 8521 | Lower leg, foot drop |
| Posterior tibial | 8525 | Foot, sole |
| Median nerve | 8515 | Hand, wrist, thumb side |
| Ulnar nerve | 8516 | Hand, pinky side |
| Radial nerve | 8514 | Forearm, wrist extension |
Sciatic nerve neuropathy carries the highest possible single-nerve rating at 80% for complete paralysis, since the sciatic nerve controls most of the leg below the hip. Smaller sensory nerves cap out at lower maximum ratings, sometimes around 10% to 30%, because losing sensation alone is considered less disabling than losing motor function.
Rating by Limb: What This Means for Your Combined Rating
If your peripheral neuropathy affects multiple limbs, each one is rated on its own, then combined. Common scenarios:
- Neuropathy in both feet only: Two separate ratings, one per foot, combined using VA math, plus a 10% bilateral factor added to the combined value of the two leg ratings before they're folded into your overall combined rating.
- Neuropathy in both feet and both hands: Up to four separate ratings, each combined step by step, with the bilateral factor applied to the paired legs and again to the paired arms.
- Neuropathy in one limb only: A single rating for that nerve, no bilateral factor.
VA combined ratings are not added like regular math. Two 20% ratings do not equal 40%. The VA uses a combined ratings table that accounts for the fact that a veteran with two disabilities still has some percentage of "whole health" remaining. For an accurate combined estimate based on your specific ratings, use a VA combined ratings calculator or a free eligibility screening at Benefits Navigator's screener.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common way veterans end up rated for this condition. If Type 2 diabetes is already service-connected (including as a presumptive condition from Agent Orange exposure), diabetic peripheral neuropathy is typically claimed as a secondary condition under 38 CFR 4.119, diagnostic code 7913, which lists compensable complications of diabetes separately from the diabetes rating itself. Other common diabetes secondaries include diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, each rated on its own and combined into your total.
To get diabetic peripheral neuropathy service-connected, you generally need:
- A current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, typically confirmed by nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS) or clinical exam findings
- A service-connected diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes already on file
- A medical opinion (nexus letter) linking the neuropathy to the diabetes, or VA treatment records showing the connection
Agent Orange and Presumptive Peripheral Neuropathy
Early-onset peripheral neuropathy is on the VA's Agent Orange presumptive conditions list, meaning veterans exposed to herbicides during qualifying service (Vietnam, certain Korea DMZ service, C-123 aircraft, and other PACT Act locations) don't have to prove the connection with a nexus letter. There's a catch: the presumption requires the condition to have become at least 10% disabling within one year of the last date of herbicide exposure. If your peripheral neuropathy developed later, you can still file a claim, but you'll need to submit direct evidence linking it to service exposure rather than relying on the automatic presumption.
The PACT Act expanded the list of locations and time periods that count for presumptive exposure, and added conditions in recent years including hypothyroidism and bladder cancer. If you served in a PACT Act covered location and have neuropathy symptoms, it's worth filing a claim even if you're unsure whether the one-year window applies to your case.
How to Prove Your Peripheral Neuropathy Claim
The VA looks for three things in a peripheral neuropathy claim:
- Current diagnosis - Medical records, nerve conduction studies, or an EMG confirming peripheral neuropathy and identifying which nerves are affected
- In-service event, injury, or exposure - Documentation of a nerve injury, diabetes diagnosis, or herbicide/burn pit exposure during service
- Medical nexus - A doctor's statement connecting the current neuropathy to the in-service event, unless you qualify for a presumptive condition
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Gather medical evidence. Get nerve conduction studies or EMG results, treatment notes describing symptoms (numbness, burning, tingling, weakness), and records of any related conditions like diabetes.
- File your claim. Submit online at VA.gov, through the VA mobile app, by mail using VA Form 21-526EZ, or in person at a VA regional office or through an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO).
- Attend your Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. The VA will schedule an exam to assess how severe your nerve damage is and how it limits function. Describe symptoms accurately, including how they affect daily activities, work, and sleep.
- Wait for the rating decision. The VA will issue a decision letter with your assigned percentage for each nerve and your new combined rating.
- File a supplemental claim or appeal if needed. If the rating seems too low or the claim is denied, you can submit new evidence through a Supplemental Claim, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Working with an accredited VSO, free through organizations like the VFW, DAV, or American Legion, can help make sure your claim includes the right evidence the first time.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability payments increased 2.8% effective December 1, 2025, matching the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. Monthly rates for a veteran with no dependents in 2026:
| Combined Rating | Monthly Payment (No Dependents) |
|---|
| 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 at 30% or higher receive additional monthly amounts for a dependent spouse, children, or dependent parents. Ratings below 30% do not add dependent pay. If you also receive Social Security disability or other federal benefits, a full eligibility screening can show how VA compensation interacts with other programs you may qualify for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum VA disability rating for peripheral neuropathy?
The maximum single-nerve rating is 80%, for complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. Most veterans with peripheral neuropathy in the feet or hands receive ratings in the 10% to 40% range per limb, since complete paralysis is rare. When multiple limbs are affected, the combined rating can be significantly higher than any single-limb rating.
Can you get 100% VA disability for peripheral neuropathy alone?
It's uncommon for peripheral neuropathy by itself to reach a 100% combined rating, since even severe cases in all four limbs typically combine to somewhere in the 60% to 90% range using VA math. Veterans with peripheral neuropathy plus other service-connected conditions, or those who qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), can reach 100% overall even if no single condition is rated at 100%.
Does diabetic peripheral neuropathy count as a separate disability from diabetes?
Yes. Diabetes is rated on its own under diagnostic code 7913, and compensable complications like peripheral neuropathy are rated separately as secondary conditions. Both ratings combine into your overall percentage, they aren't merged into one number.
How long does it take the VA to rate a peripheral neuropathy claim?
Processing times vary, but most VA disability claims take several months from filing to decision, depending on how much evidence is needed and whether a C&P exam is required. Claims with clear nerve conduction study results and an established secondary connection to an already-rated condition like diabetes tend to move faster than claims requiring a new nexus opinion.
Is peripheral neuropathy in the feet from military boots or standing service-connected?
It can be, if you can show an in-service event or injury (such as documented foot or nerve problems during service) and a medical nexus connecting that event to your current neuropathy. Claims based on general wear from standing or boots are harder to prove than claims tied to diabetes, Agent Orange exposure, or a documented in-service nerve injury, and typically require stronger supporting medical evidence.
Do I need a nerve conduction study to get rated for peripheral neuropathy?
The VA doesn't strictly require a nerve conduction study (NCS/EMG), but it's the most objective way to document which nerves are affected and how severely. Without one, the C&P examiner will rely on clinical exam findings and your reported symptoms, which can make it harder to secure an accurate rating.
