Va Service Connected Neuropathy

The Merck Manual lists the following symptoms of neuropathy.

Va service connected neuropathy. Establishing secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy can greatly increase your VA rating but it is often overlooked. VA has provided the following chart with symptoms peripheral neuropathy. The VA diagnostic code for Peripheral Neuropathy seems on its face to be fairly straightforward. Neuropathy is listed as a disease of the peripheral nerves under Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders.

Avitaminosis beriberi chronic dysentery helminthiasis malnutrition including optic atrophy associated with malnutrition pellagra and or other nutritional deficiencies irritable bowel syndrome peptic ulcer disease peripheral neuropathy except where related to infectious causes cirrhosis of the liver and effective Sept. Secondary service connection in this example means your diabetes which is already established by the VA to have direct service connection caused your neuropathy. The VA uses this schedule to assess your disability. However they have never been formally diagnosed with this condition.

Radiculopathy is caused by a compressed nerve in the spine. But if you watch the decisions coming out of the Board you will quickly see that most Veterans fail to get beyond the 10 rating level and its not because the condition is not severe. Peripheral neuropathy numbness of the fingers toes hands or feet Vietnam veterans. Fatigue Skin symptoms Headaches Muscle pain Joint pain Neurological symptoms Sleep disturbance GI symptoms.

Many veterans make the mistake of failing to specify diabetic neuropathy which can lead to the denial of their initial claim. Presumptive service connection is another method of obtaining service connection. Your appeal should seek to clarify that point to the VA. As with all nerve conditions the VA looks at which specific nerve is affected in order to rate the condition.

Veterans may experience a number of debilitating nerve conditions. In lay terms neuropathy is commonly referred to as nerve damage in the extremities. However three of the most common include peripheral neuropathy radiculopathy and sciatica. 9 times out of 10 Veterans seeking ratings higher than 10 fail to do so because of a failure of proof.

Early onset peripheral neuropathy is a presumptive condition for veterans who were exposed to herbicides during their military service. The VA Does Not Typically Attempt to Disprove the Presumptive Service Connection In addition the Veteran may be eligible for compensation for a number of conditions that are judged as secondary to Type 2 diabetes such as diabetic nephropathy diabetic neuropathy coronary artery disease hypertension and a list of other conditions. The rating schedule that is applied to neuropathy is based on the level of incomplete paralysis for each extremity hands and feet. However in this case the disability must have developed to a degree of at least 10 disabling within one.

Service-Connected Neuropathy and Agent Orange The United States Department of Veterans Affairs VA has a compensation schedule for rating disabilities. In response to this report VA eliminated the requirement that acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy appear within weeks or months. If a veteran is service connected for their diabetes they can get secondary service connection for their diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However when rating conditions involving the peripheral nerves of the upper backneck and the arms the VA also considers whether an entire group of nerves is affected.

Update 2010 concluded that there is limited or suggestive evidence of an association between herbicide exposure and early-onset peripheral neuropathy that may be persistent. Peripheral neuropathy manifests as weakness numbness and pain usually in the hands or feet. The HMD report Veterans and Agent Orange. Based on this evidence VA presumed an association between herbicide exposure during service and acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy.

If you served in Vietnam between January 9 1962 and May 7 1975 and were exposed to the herbicide known as Agent Orange the VA assumes service connection for the following medical conditions.