VA Disability Rating for Musculocutaneous Nerve Paralysis
Diagnostic Code 8517 · 38 CFR §4.124a
What Is It?
The musculocutaneous nerve controls your biceps and brachialis muscles, which are the main muscles for bending your elbow. It also provides sensation to the outer side of your forearm. When this nerve is damaged, you have significant difficulty bending your elbow against resistance and may experience numbness along the outer forearm. Veterans may develop this condition from shoulder dislocations, upper arm fractures, stab or shrapnel wounds, or surgical complications during military service. The rating schedule describes complete paralysis of this nerve as weakness, but not loss, of flexion of the elbow and supination of the forearm.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 30% | Complete paralysis in the major (dominant) arm: weakness but not loss of flexion of the elbow and supination of the forearm. |
| 20% | Complete paralysis in the minor (non-dominant) arm, or severe incomplete paralysis in either arm. Severe is the same 20 percent for the major and the minor arm. |
| 10% | Moderate incomplete paralysis. Same rating for the major and the minor arm. |
| 0% | Mild incomplete paralysis. Same rating for the major and the minor arm. |
Evidence Needed
- Medical records documenting musculocutaneous nerve injury related to service
- Electromyography and nerve conduction study results
- Biceps strength testing and elbow flexion measurements
- Records of which arm is dominant
- Documentation of sensory changes on the outer forearm
C&P Exam Tips
- Demonstrate your difficulty bending the elbow against resistance
- Show any visible wasting of the biceps muscle compared to the other arm
- Describe the numbness on your outer forearm if present
- Explain how weakness bending the elbow affects lifting and carrying tasks
- Make sure the examiner records which arm is your dominant arm
How to File
File under DC 8517 for musculocutaneous nerve paralysis. Provide nerve testing results and evidence connecting the injury to your military service. Document whether the affected arm is your dominant or non-dominant side. 38 CFR 4.124a prints complete paralysis at 30 percent for the major arm and 20 for the minor; severe incomplete paralysis is 20 percent, moderate 10 percent, and mild 0 percent for either arm.
Common Mistakes
- Having biceps weakness evaluated as a muscle injury rather than a nerve condition.
- Not getting electromyography testing to confirm nerve involvement.
- Failing to compare biceps size between both arms to show muscle wasting.
- Not documenting the sensory component of the nerve damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other muscles compensate for musculocutaneous nerve damage?
To some degree, yes. The brachioradialis muscle, which is controlled by a different nerve, can partially compensate for biceps weakness. However, elbow flexion strength will still be significantly reduced, and this compensation does not reduce your rating since the nerve damage still exists.
How is this different from a biceps tear?
A biceps tendon tear is a structural injury to the muscle itself, while musculocutaneous nerve paralysis affects the nerve that controls the muscle. The functional result can appear similar, but nerve testing will distinguish between the two. The distinction matters because they are rated under different diagnostic codes.