Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

[Chief1954]

Greetings

How is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy rated? Best

Regards 

Chiefhouse00 

[jamescripps2]

Anywhere from 0% all the way up to loss of use of an extremity. Just depends upon how severe.  

In my own case it was rated as loss of use of bilateral upper extremities ànd loss of use of bilateral lower extremities.

[Chief1954]

Greetings

My PN claim is in the decision stage so I should know the outcome soon. Thanks for this information. I'm hoping for a good rating. My foot are killing me.

Best Regards

Chiefhouse00 

[john999]

I got 40% on both feet and 40% and 30% for upper extremities.  All this evolved from a C&P exam.  You just can't tell until you get your decision.  How did your C&P exam go?  I thought mine went pretty well, but I did not expect to go from 10% to 40%.  I actually wanted an increase in my DMII claim which did involve PN.  I was pretty shocked that I got such a high rating for my extremities.  If they low ball you be sure to file an appeal.  Try to get another exam.  You never know how incompetent the next one might be to your advantage.  I have no idea how the VA can determine that a person is 40% for PN as opposed to 10%.  My exams were extremely basic.  No high tech but just the exam nurse looking me over.

[Chief1954]

Greetings! I called the 1-800 number and was told VA had received my C&P Exam and will make a decision soon. You are right that the exam wasn't that bad. It would be nice to get a good rating too. Hey, thanks for sharing and I will post my results when I get it.

Best Regards

Chiefhouse00 

[jamescripps2]

40% is the below the knee amputation rate so you could not go over 40% per extremity unless they find loss of use. LOU is 100% for bilatteral below the knee loss of, or loss of use of lower extremities.

[jamescripps2]

According to 38 CFR 3.350, permanent loss of the perenial nerve will be considered as loss of use by the VA. Ask your Podiatrist to check for permanent loss of that nerve. You, on your own cannot determine that you have lost that nerve as the symptems are suttle and hard to put your finger on.

Loss of use would get you a 100% P&T, a $24,000.00 vehicle grant with adaptive equiptment, and a $108,000.00 specially adaptive housing grant.

My PN was originally granted @ 10%, I appealed and got 30%, once again, I appealed and was granted 40%. Upon my next appeal, I appealed to the BVA and was granted 100% P&T for bilateral loss of use to include five years retro. I appealed for an EED at the CAVC, and I was granted ten years back pay.

Next, I asked for A&A and it was granted. A&A is SMC "L".

Loss of use of two feet is also SMC "L".

If a veteran can get two ratings between SMC "L" and SMC "N" then he is bumped to the maximum rating of SMC "O". At that point, the A&A automatically goes to a higher level, "R-"1".

Later on I qualified for the bump to R-2, the highest level of A&A.

There are several ancillary benefits picked up along the way.

If this all sounds like greek to you, read 38 CFR3.350 and 3.352.

To get a clearer version read 38 USC 1114.