Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve:

Sciatica (paralysis of the sciatic nerve) is the #3 most often claimed and service-connected VA disability.

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation and pain to include some numbness in the affected leg.

The VA rates Sciatica under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, DC 8520, Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve. and uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to assess sciatica severity. This formula considers factors like:

  • Pain intensity and frequency: How often and how severely does the sciatic pain impact your daily life?

  • Range of motion: Limitations in movement due to sciatica in your lower back and leg. A Limitation of Range of Motion (ROM) test with a goniometer should be performed at your C&P exam for Sciatica. Make the doctor stop as soon as you feel pain.

  • Neurological deficits: Any weakness, numbness, or tingling sensations caused by nerve damage.

VA Ratings for Sciatica fall between 10% and 80%, with breaks at 20%, 40%, and 60%. The highest scheduler rating for Sciatica is 80%, which means you have complete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, your foot dangles and drops, you have no active movement of the muscles below the knee.

What are the VA disability ratings for Sciatica?

  • 80%: Complete paralysis; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or lost

  • 60%: Incomplete paralysis, severe with “marked muscular atrophy”

  • 40%: Incomplete paralysis, moderately severe

  • 20%: Incomplete paralysis, moderate

  • 10%: Incomplete paralysis, mild with flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost.

In total, 1,502,563 disabled veterans have a service-connected VA disability rating for Sciatica.

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