Diagnostic Code 8045 does not work like most of the rating schedule. Instead of a list of percentage criteria, it uses a table of facets with assigned levels of impairment. Understanding that structure explains a lot of TBI decisions.
This guide is part of our series on VA claims for traumatic brain injury.
The three areas of residuals
38 CFR 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8045 groups TBI residuals into cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioral dysfunction, and physical or neurological dysfunction. Only the first area is evaluated through the facet table. The other two are evaluated under the diagnostic codes for the specific conditions involved.
The facets
The evaluation table in the regulation assigns a level of impairment to each of the following facets:
- Memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions
- Judgment
- Social interaction
- Orientation
- Motor activity, with intact motor and sensory system
- Visual spatial orientation
- Subjective symptoms
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Communication
- Consciousness
How levels become a percentage
Each facet receives a level of 0, 1, 2, 3, or total. The regulation then converts the highest level assigned to any single facet into the overall evaluation: 0 for level 0, 10 percent for level 1, 40 percent for level 2, 70 percent for level 3, and 100 percent for total.
That structure means a single severely affected facet can carry the rating, while several mildly affected facets may not. When the evidence is evenly balanced between two levels, 38 CFR 4.7 and 38 CFR 3.102 direct the higher evaluation and resolution of reasonable doubt in the veteran's favor. Our benefit of the doubt guide explains that rule.
Subjective symptoms are a facet, not an afterthought
Headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, insomnia, and fatigue appear in the regulation as subjective symptoms, with levels tied to how much they interfere with work, family, and other activities. When a subjective symptom has its own diagnosis, such as migraine headaches, the regulation directs evaluating it under its own diagnostic code instead.
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion that addresses the link between your condition and your service.
Why a table of facets instead of a percentage list
Most diagnostic codes in the VA's rating schedule list a set of symptoms next to a percentage. Diagnostic Code 8045 works differently because TBI residuals rarely present as a single, uniform picture. One veteran's cognitive impairment may center on memory and executive function, while another's centers on communication or motor activity. The facet table lets the VA capture that variation by describing what each level of impairment looks like within a specific domain, rather than forcing all TBI residuals into one general description.
This structure also explains why two veterans with a TBI can receive very different evaluations even when both have a documented head injury. The evaluation follows the current facet levels shown in the record, not the fact of the diagnosis itself.
Total evaluation under the facet table
In addition to levels 0 through 3, several facets in the table can be assigned a level of "total," which corresponds to a 100 percent evaluation on its own. The regulation describes this level in terms of a complete inability to function independently in that facet - for example, a total inability to communicate or a complete lack of orientation to person, place, or time. A single facet at the total level controls the overall evaluation, the same way a single facet at level 3 controls it at 70 percent.
Because a total-level facet can determine the whole rating by itself, examinations that clearly describe the degree of impairment in each facet - rather than describing symptoms generally - give the rating decision more to work with.
How this fits with other TBI residuals
The facet table only covers cognitive impairment. Emotional and behavioral dysfunction with its own mental health diagnosis is rated under 38 CFR 4.130, and physical residuals with their own diagnoses - such as migraine headaches or a vestibular disorder - are rated under the diagnostic code specific to that condition. Our mental health symptoms guide and headaches guide explain how those separate evaluations are handled alongside the facet table.
This guide is educational. It summarizes the VA's own published rules and links to the exact sources it relies on. It is not legal or claims advice, and it is not a substitute for an accredited representative, who can advise you about your specific claim. Accredited help is free - search the VA's accreditation database to find a Veterans Service Organization, accredited agent, or attorney.
Frequently asked questions
What are the TBI facets?
Diagnostic Code 8045 in 38 CFR 4.124a evaluates cognitive impairment and other residuals through ten facets, including memory and attention, judgment, social interaction, orientation, motor activity, visual spatial orientation, subjective symptoms, neurobehavioral effects, communication, and consciousness.
How does the highest facet level set the rating?
Each facet is assigned a level of impairment from 0 to 3, or total. The regulation converts the single highest level into the overall evaluation: level 0 is 0 percent, level 1 is 10 percent, level 2 is 40 percent, level 3 is 70 percent, and total is 100 percent.
Can two facets be combined for a higher rating?
No. Under the regulation the overall evaluation comes from the highest single facet level, not from adding facets together.