Home › Conditions › Secondary claims › Radiculopathy ← a Back Condition
A secondary claim is a condition caused or worsened by one the VA has already service-connected (38 CFR 3.310). The causation fight is already half-won — the VA agreed your a back condition came from service; the question is only whether it caused or aggravated the radiculopathy. That's a medical question with a recognized answer.
The connection
This one is barely a 'secondary' at all — it is the same injury reaching further. A compromised disc or narrowed spinal canal compresses the nerve roots, sending pain, numbness, or weakness down a limb. The VA rates radiculopathy SEPARATELY from the spine, per extremity — which is exactly why it is the most commonly missed money on any back claim.
How the VA rates radiculopathy
DC 8520 — Sciatic nerve (paralysis of)
| Rating | Criteria (38 CFR Part 4 wording) |
|---|---|
| 80% | Complete; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost |
| 60% | Incomplete — severe, with marked muscular atrophy |
| 40% | Incomplete — moderately severe |
| 20% | Incomplete — moderate |
| 10% | Incomplete — mild |
Each extremity is rated separately and then combined — two legs is two ratings.
The upper-extremity nerves (DC 8510 upper radicular group, 8511 middle, 8512 lower, 8513 all radicular groups) follow the same complete/severe/moderate/mild ladder, with major-hand and minor-hand values (for example DC 8510: complete 70/60, severe 50/40, moderate 40/30, mild 20/20).
Full criteria, exam and evidence guide: VA rating for Radiculopathy. And the anchor: VA rating for Back and Neck Conditions.
What the claim needs — the three legs
- The anchor: service connection for the a back condition (see how that condition is rated). Not connected yet? File both in the same claim — the VA decides the anchor first, then the secondary against it.
- A current diagnosis of radiculopathy — the VA rates diagnosed conditions. If you only have the symptoms, file them anyway: the C&P exam supplies the diagnosis, and a "no diagnosis" denial is repaired with a supplemental claim that keeps your date.
- The medical link. An opinion stating it is "at least as likely as not" that the a back condition caused or aggravated the radiculopathy. The VA's own C&P examiner supplies this free in most cases; your own doctor can too. A paid independent opinion is the answer to a denial, not the first move.
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See If You Qualify →Frequently asked questions
Can I claim radiculopathy secondary to a back condition?
Yes, if three things hold: the a back condition (or its equivalent) is service-connected, you have a current diagnosis of radiculopathy, and a medical opinion connects the two. The connection described on this page is a recognized pathway raters see regularly.
Do I need to pay for a nexus letter for radiculopathy secondary to a back condition?
Usually not. The VA's own C&P examiner can supply the connecting opinion at your exam for free, and your own treating doctor can also provide it. A paid independent opinion is worth buying only after a denial for lack of nexus — a supplemental claim within one year keeps the original effective date.
What if the primary condition isn't service-connected yet?
File them together in the same claim. The VA decides the primary first and then the secondary against it in the same decision; a secondary filed alone against a condition the VA has not connected fails. Filing both at once under one Intent to File protects the effective date for both.
Last reviewed 2026-09-19.