Peripheral Neuropathy — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Peripheral Neuropathy
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960C-10 (Peripheral Nerves Conditions (Not Including Diabetic Sensory-Motor Peripheral Neuropathy)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
What the examiner measures
- Which peripheral nerve(s) and which extremity are affected
- Whether paralysis is incomplete or complete, and the severity (mild → severe)
- Sensory exam (light touch, pinprick, vibration/position sense) mapping decreased/absent sensation
- Muscle strength (0–5 scale), deep tendon reflexes, and any atrophy or trophic changes
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Peripheral Neuropathy — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Peripheral Neuropathy, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Peripheral Neuropathy
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.124a, peripheral nerve paralysis (rating depends on the affected nerve and hand dominance; DC 8520 sciatic nerve shown as representative). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Mild incomplete paralysis of the affected nerve.
Moderate incomplete paralysis of the affected nerve.
Moderately severe incomplete paralysis (sciatic nerve, DC 8520).
Severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy (sciatic nerve, DC 8520).
Complete paralysis of the affected nerve (sciatic nerve, DC 8520).
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Peripheral Neuropathy raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Peripheral Neuropathy claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, 2022 · PMID 36785586
Finding: This review of published data on Vietnam-era Agent Orange (dioxin) exposure found that relatively high levels of exposure increased the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, either alone or as a co-factor complication of diabetes mellitus, in exposed U.S. and South Korean veterans.
Why it helps: Supports an association between herbicide (Agent Orange) exposure during military service and later peripheral neuropathy, directly relevant for veterans with qualifying Vietnam-era or other presumptive exposure.
- Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysisSecondary
Primary Care Diabetes, 2020 · nexus to Diabetes mellitus (type 2) · PMID 31917119
Finding: Pooling 29 studies and 50,112 participants, the pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was 30% (95% CI 25-34%), and was higher in type 2 diabetes (31.5%) than type 1 (17.5%).
Why it helps: Supports a strong association between diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, helpful when claiming neuropathy as secondary to a service-connected diabetes condition (including diabetes itself presumptively linked to Agent Orange).
- The Relationship Between Prediabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy-A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisSecondary
European Journal of Neurology, 2025 · nexus to Prediabetes / impaired glucose tolerance · PMID 40626353
Finding: This meta-analysis found a statistically significant association between prediabetes and peripheral neuropathy, with a standardized mean difference of 0.23 (95% CI 0.14-0.33) on increasing-impairment metrics and -1.04 (95% CI -1.05 to -0.57) on nerve-fiber-density and thermal-threshold metrics.
Why it helps: Supports an association between even early/borderline glucose dysregulation and peripheral neuropathy, useful where a veteran has prediabetes or metabolic dysfunction short of full diabetes.
Journal of Neurology, 2019 · nexus to Alcohol use disorder · PMID 30467601
Finding: Across 87 studies, the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among chronic alcohol abusers was 46.3% (95% CI 35.7-57.3%) when confirmed by nerve conduction studies, presenting as a progressive, predominantly sensory length-dependent axonal neuropathy, with total lifetime ethanol dose the most important risk factor.
Why it helps: Supports an association between chronic alcohol use and peripheral neuropathy, relevant when neuropathy is claimed secondary to a service-connected alcohol use disorder (which may itself be secondary to PTSD).
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2020 · nexus to Cancer chemotherapy / service-connected cancer treatment · PMID 32663120
Finding: This ASCO clinical practice guideline, based on systematic review of 257 references, establishes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) as a recognized treatment complication and notes duloxetine as the only agent with evidence supporting treatment of established painful CIPN.
Why it helps: Supports recognition of peripheral neuropathy as a documented consequence of cancer chemotherapy, relevant when a veteran develops neuropathy after treatment for a service-connected cancer (e.g., a presumptive exposure cancer).
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Peripheral Neuropathy
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Peripheral Neuropathy. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Related Guides
Peripheral Neuropathy as a Secondary Condition
Peripheral Neuropathy is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Peripheral Neuropathyclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Peripheral Neuropathy should also be looking at:
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Draft your Peripheral Neuropathy personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Peripheral Neuropathy.
Peripheral Neuropathy Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.