A veteran can get numbness and tingling sensations on different body parts for various reasons. The root cause for them is nerve damage that may have occurred during the service. If so, you are eligible for VA disability compensation.
Of course, the rating you will get from your condition will depend on the severity of it. Not all nerve damage is permanent. VA checks and determines your rating following a C&P exam.
In this article, we will cover various details regarding nerve damage and its C&P examination.
What Is Nerve Damage?
Nerve damage is almost self-explanatory- it is the damage to the nerve on any part of one’s body. While it usually happens to the more exposed areas of the body, like hands or feet, it can happen anywhere.
Throughout our body are nerves scattered. They all connect to the brain and transmit signals to and from your body parts. Their major duty is to provide one with sensitivity to touch, temperature, and moving parts of the body. These nerves are called Peripheral Nerves.
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to any part of the nerves. Currently, over two million veterans in the USA are suffering from different severity and frequency of this condition.
The following are some of the common causes of nerve damage during service time-
- Physical trauma, such as landing on the hand or feet wrongly from a high-up place.
- Using harmful chemicals without proper protective gear and getting exposure.
- Secondary to other diseases such as diabetes or cancer.
Symptoms of Nerve Damage
The symptoms of nerve damage are usually tingling, numbness, and weakness in the area. However, a more severe condition may cause pain to the patient. Some other signs and symptoms are-
- Stinging sensation.
- Burning sensation.
- Loss of sensation, including sensitivity to temperature or touch.
- Loss of reflexes.
- Struggling to balance the body or walk properly.
- Struggling to coordinate different parts of the body to perform a task.
What Is a C&P Exam?
The Compensation and Pension or C&P is an exam that the VA schedules for veterans to check up on their health and condition. It allows them to determine a rating on a veteran’s disability. Different illnesses may have different methods of examination. Once you submit a claim, the VA should call you for a C&P exam.
VA Ratings on Nerve Damage
The disability ratings on nerve damage may be 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40%. It not only depends on the severity and persistence of the illness but also on the affected area. The table below explains the rating you may get for nerve damage based on different criteria.
| VA Disability Rating | Criteria to Match |
| 10% Rating | A mild tingling, numbness, and painful sensation in the affected area. |
| 20% Rating | A moderate tingling, numbness, and painful sensation in the affected area. |
| 30% Rating | A severe tingling, numbness, and pain in the affected area but no paralysis. |
| 40% Rating | 1) Total paralysis of the affected area. 2) Loss of sensitivity in the nerve in the feet. 3) Struggling to spread the toes apart and little drooping of the toes. 4) Struggling to move feet backward and unable to move them sideways. 5) Struggling to bend the front of your feet up. |
Do You Get Separate Rating for Nerve Damage on Each Area and Side of Your Body?
Yes, you can get different ratings for nerve damage in each area of your body, including the same limbs on each side. It is called the bilateral factor, where if two similar sides of a body get the same condition, they get separate ratings.
The bilateral factor doesn’t work for many disabilities. For example, loss of hearing or tinnitus gets only one rating, even if both ears have the conditions. Fortunately, you can get the bilateral ratings for numbness and tingling following a C&P exam.
The codes explaining the ratings for nerve damage are 8520, 8521, 8530, 8620, and 8720. Each is for different types of nerves, along with different severity.
How to Prepare for C&P Exam for Nerve Damage?
You will need ample proof to prepare yourself for the compensation and pension exam for nerve damage. One of the major evidence you need is proof of you having the disability. Other ones you will need are-
- The connection to your disability stemming from or worsening by your service.
- Medical report from a VA or private doctor. Our experts at VA Disability Coach can sort that out.
- Medical diagnosis. Some good options you can go for are an MRI, nerve condition study, blood test, or nerve biopsy.
- Nexus letter from a doctor describing your condition. It can also help you prove your disability’s connection to your service. We highly recommend gathering it when your disability is presumptive or secondary-service-connected.
- A neurological examination report.
Keep these papers and information ready before you go for a C&P exam. You will need to fill out the DBQ form by answering the provider. It may include questions about the list above, your peripheral neuropathy history, and details about your condition.
When answering the questions, it is mandatory to be truthful and explain everything in detail. Don’t leave out any information; try to add the symptoms of your worst episodes/days.
Final Note
A C&P exam for numbness and tingling may feel overwhelming without the proper preparation and knowledge. Completing this process can grant you the VA’s approval for the monthly compensation you deserve. When answering the DBQ form, you can ask your doctor to fill it out for you. That way, you won’t have to worry about the details that much.