If you have nerve damage or pain that’s linked to your military service, you may be eligible to receive payment for it. Read this post to learn more about the VA rating for nerve damage and what qualifies.
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Nerve damage is frightening. Part of your body doesn’t work the way it’s expected to, at least not all the time. You randomly drop things, can’t walk on certain days, or no longer have use of an arm. If you have nerve damage or pain as a result of your time in the military, you deserve VA disability benefits.
In this article about the VA ratings for nerve damage and pain:
Understanding nerve damage and pain
Nerve damage is when a nerve in any part of the body is injured. It can cause pain and problems with the functioning of that part of the body. In some cases, it may even cause paralysis.
Symptoms of nerve damage and pain can include:
- Feeling restriction in your hands or feet, like you’re wearing a tight garment
- Numbness, tingling, or burning, especially in the limbs or extremities
- Weakness in or shrinking muscles, especially in your arms or legs
- Loss of strength or unexplained paralysis
- Pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
- A buzzing or “asleep” sensation
- A sudden, persistent headache
- Issues with coordination
- Twitching
Multiple things can cause nerve damage. They include:
- Illness
- Injury
- Genetics
- Other medical conditions
- Exposure to toxins
Damaged nerves can get better but some are slow to heal. Whether a nerve can heal depends on the extent of the damage. Nerve damage and pain can cause a person significant, ongoing problems.
Causes of nerve damage and pain in veterans
Because nerves are located throughout the body and help with various functions, all types of things can cause nerve damage and pain. Veterans may experience nerve damage from:
- Diabetes. Nerve damage is a long-term complication of diabetes because of damage caused by high blood sugar.
- Sciatica. Pressure or herniation related to sciatica can cause ongoing or long-term nerve pain.
- Exposure to toxins like Agent Orange
- Combat or training-related injuries that damage a nerve, including falls
- Cancer. Cancer can cause nerve damage or pain if a tumor is pressing on a nerve or as a result of chemotherapy exposure.
- Lupus. Lupus can cause damage to nerves because of inflammation around the nerves or surrounding tissue.
- Hepatitis C. Damage of nerves throughout the body is a side effect of Hepatitis C.
Peripheral neuropathy, which is “nerve damage caused by several different conditions,” is presumptive for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange. Also, POWs held for more than 30 days may receive a presumptive service connection for peripheral neuropathy except where directly related to infection.
This list of possible sources of nerve damage or pain isn’t comprehensive because nerves are all over the body, creating many opportunities for impact from injury or illness. Therefore, nerve damage or pain may have a primary or secondary connection to your military service.
The VA rating for nerve damage
The VA rates nerve damage or pain based on loss of function to the affected nerve This means it can be rated using different diagnostic codes in the Schedule of Ratings, depending on the body part where the nerve condition causes problems.
Nerve damage or pain can be rated as:
- Paralysis. This means the nerve doesn’t function properly, which results in incomplete or complete paralysis.
- Neuritis. Neuritis means the nerve has inflammation and causes symptoms that range from pain, loss of sensation, weakened reflexes and strength, to paralysis.
- Neuralgia. Neuralgia means the veteran experienced sharp pain and other physical sensations like tingling or numbness usually resulting from nerve damage.
For rating purposes, incomplete paralysis can range from mild to severe. The VA will use the information it gathers from the veteran’s claim file and C&P exams to determine the severity of the nerve damage and nerve pain.
Additionally, a veteran may receive more than one rating if they have nerve damage to multiple parts of their body. The rating for each body part would depend on the severity of the issue.
Bilateral nerve damage
The bilateral factor is applied by the VA if you have damage that impacts the same area on both sides of your body, such as if you have a nerve condition that affects both of your hands. This rule exists because disabilities that affect both sides of the body can be more limiting for veterans.
The bilateral factor combines ratings for disabilities on either side of the body and then adds 10% of the value of this combined rating. Because VA math requires a veteran’s overall rating to be rounded, there are circumstances in which applying the bilateral factor could push a veteran’s rating to the next highest compensation level.
If you need help figuring out VA ratings with the bilateral factor, you can use our helpful VA disability ratings calculator.
DBQs for nerve damage
A DBQ, or public disability benefits questionnaire, is a VA form that doctors or medical providers use to collect additional information and evidence they need to process and support a veteran’s claim. DBQs are used during C&P exams to guide the process and provide the C&P examiner with more accurate, thorough information about the veteran’s condition.
DBQs for nerve damage and pain measure the full extent of your condition, including:
- Your symptoms, such as constant or intermittent pain, paresthesias (tingling) and dysesthesias (physical touch sensations like itching or burning), and numbness
- Location and severity of symptoms
- Muscle strength of the affected body parts
- The presence or absence of muscle atrophy
- Reflexes of the affected body parts
- Level of sensation to touch in the affected body parts
- Normal or abnormal gait
- Need for assistive devices such as a wheelchair or cane
For more information about DBQs for nerve conditions, you can see the full list of neurological DBQs on the VA’s website. You can also watch one of our VA-accredited attorneys explain the benefits of using DBQs for your VA disability claim in our video below.
SMC for nerve damage
If you lose the ability to use a hand or foot as a result of nerve damage, you may be eligible for special monthly compensation (SMC).
SMC is a type of disability benefit for veterans that increases the amount of compensation you receive for certain severe disabilities.
The VA provides SMC to include the loss of function of extremities and other senses.
“This additional money is intended to pay the veteran for the disability as well as the accommodations that they need to take care of their everyday needs,” explained VA disability lawyer Krystal Lechner.
TDIU for nerve damage and pain
A veteran can be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) benefits if they can’t maintain substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected conditions.
Nerve damage and the resulting pain could make it impossible for a veteran to work. If you can’t use your arms, legs, hands, or feet regularly because they are weak or use is painful, it may be impossible to even do light office work. In situations like that, you may qualify for TDIU.
TDIU pays at the same level as a 100% disability rating, even when the veteran’s combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
“If you were injured while serving this country and are reading this review, I encourage you to contact Woods and Woods right away. They are always standing ready to assist veterans in need.”
J.B., a Navy veteran in Virginia
How our VA-accredited attorneys can help
If you have service-connected conditions that affect your ability to live and work, you deserve your full VA disability compensation. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation to see how we can help. You only pay us if we win.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There’s no such thing as an average VA rating for nerve damage. The rating depends on where the damage is located and its severity.
A physician has to diagnose nerve damage. You then must prove that your nerve damage was caused or aggravated by military service. Evidence like medical records, military records, and lay statements can all help service connect nerve damage.
Neil Woods
VA disability lawyer
Woods and Woods
VA Accreditation Number: 44739
