Bethanie Spangenberg, CEO of Valor 4 Vet and VA appeals agent, joins us to examine peripheral neuropathies and potential changes to the VA's rating system that could dramatically affect veterans' disability claims.

• Peripheral Nerve Conditions DBQ covers nerve damage including carpal tunnel syndrome and surgical nerve damage, but not diabetic neuropathy or radiculopathies
• VA currently rates nerve conditions using multiple factors: symptoms, muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, and skin changes
• Proposed changes would reduce assessment to muscle strength testing only, potentially under-rating veterans with small fiber neuropathy
• Small fiber neuropathies (affecting fingers/toes) present differently than large nerve fiber diseases but aren't properly captured in current or proposed systems
• Veterans with diabetic neuropathy can have severe symptoms while maintaining good muscle strength, leading to inappropriate ratings
• EMG and nerve conduction studies can differentiate between acute and chronic nerve damage but don't always capture small fiber disease
• Veterans with nerve conditions should ensure comprehensive documentation of all symptoms, not just muscle weakness

Contact Valor for Vet at www.valorforvet.com if you need assistance with independent medical opinions for your VA claim.

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