Restless Legs Syndrome

DC 8620Neurological38 CFR 4.124a, DC 8620

A nervous system disorder that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually because of uncomfortable sensations. The VA rates restless legs syndrome based on how often symptoms occur and how much they affect your sleep and daily life.

Rating Levels

Severe symptoms. You have constant symptoms with severe sleep impairment that require multiple medications to manage.

What the VA looks for

Constant symptoms documented
Severe sleep impairment on sleep study
Multiple medications required with incomplete relief
Significant daytime impairment affecting work and daily life
Physician statement on severity despite treatment

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not getting a sleep study to document how RLS affects your sleep quality — the severity of sleep disruption drives the rating.
⚠Not connecting RLS to service-connected conditions like peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, or iron deficiency as a secondary condition.
⚠Not documenting medication use and whether symptoms are controlled — the rating depends on severity despite treatment.
⚠Underreporting daytime consequences of poor sleep: fatigue, poor concentration, mood changes.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Peripheral Nerves Conditions (Not Including Diabetic Sensory-Motor Peripheral Neuropathy)

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…