VA Disability Rating for Brain Thrombosis / Stroke (DC 8008)

Diagnostic Code 8008 · 38 CFR §4.124a

What Is It?

Brain thrombosis is a type of ischemic stroke where a blood clot forms in a blood vessel supplying the brain, blocking blood flow and causing brain cell death. This is the most common type of stroke and can cause a wide range of deficits depending on which brain area is affected — weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, speech and language problems, vision loss, difficulty swallowing, and cognitive changes. Veterans may suffer strokes from service-connected hypertension, diabetes, heart conditions, or blood disorders. Strokes can also result from traumatic injury to blood vessels in the neck or head during service.

Rating Criteria

RatingCriteria
100%
60%
30%
10%

Evidence Needed

Brain imaging (CT or MRI) showing the stroke location and extent, Neurological examination documenting all current deficits, Neuropsychological testing for cognitive changes, Speech-language pathology evaluation if speech is affected, Rehabilitation records showing recovery progress, Medical records linking the stroke to service-connected risk factors

Frequently Asked Questions