VA rates sciatica as incomplete or complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve under DC 8520: 10% (mild), 20% (moderate), 40% (moderately severe), 60% (severe, with marked muscle atrophy) and 80% (complete). Most sciatica claims come from a back condition, and each leg is rated on its own.
What are the sciatica rating levels?
Under 38 CFR 4.124a, DC 8520 reads:
| Sciatic nerve (DC 8520) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Incomplete, mild | 10% |
| Incomplete, moderate | 20% |
| Incomplete, moderately severe | 40% |
| Incomplete, severe, with marked muscular atrophy | 60% |
| Complete (foot drop, no active movement below the knee) | 80% |
The earlier version of this article listed a top rating of 60% and a severe level of 40%. Those numbers were wrong. Check the schedule when you compare sources.
What does incomplete paralysis mean?
You do not have to be paralyzed to be rated. Incomplete paralysis means lost or reduced nerve function that is substantially less than complete paralysis. It can show up as numbness, tingling, pain, weakness or reduced reflexes along the leg. The schedule says that when the involvement is wholly sensory, the rating should be for the mild, or at most the moderate, degree. The examiner’s description of severity drives the level, and VA makes the final call.
How does sciatica connect to a back condition?
Sciatica is often a result of a lumbar spine problem, so many claims are secondary to a service-connected back condition. The spine itself is rated under the general rating formula, and VA tells examiners to evaluate associated neurologic abnormalities separately. You need a current diagnosis and a medical opinion that the nerve problem is at least as likely as not related to the service-connected back. A treating provider can write it. See our guide to VA ratings for lower back pain and how secondary service connection works.
What if both legs are affected?
Ratings under the nerve schedule are for one side. When both legs are affected, each is rated separately, and the bilateral factor can apply when they are combined. Our guide to the VA bilateral factor explains the math. For other nerve conditions, see radiculopathy VA ratings.
Sciatica or radiculopathy?
People use both words. Sciatica is the common name for pain along the sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy is the medical term for a pinched nerve root. VA often rates lower-extremity radiculopathy under the sciatic nerve code, but the diagnosis in your records should be your doctor’s, not a guess from an article.
Free help with a claim is available from an accredited VSO. VA makes the decision, and results vary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim sciatica if my back is already service connected?
Yes, you can file a claim for the nerve condition as secondary to the back. You need a current diagnosis and a medical opinion that it is at least as likely as not related to the service-connected back. VA decides.
Are both legs rated separately?
Yes. The nerve schedule rates one side at a time, and when both sides are affected VA combines them with the bilateral factor.
What rating do numbness and tingling alone get?
The schedule says wholly sensory involvement is rated mild, or at most moderate. That points to the 10% to 20% range, though the examiner’s findings decide.
Is sciatica rated with my back condition?
The spine and the associated nerve problem are evaluated separately. VA instructs examiners to evaluate associated neurologic abnormalities under an appropriate code.
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