Examiner: Please identify the specific nerve(s) affected. If you are unable to identify the specific nerve(s), please provide a rationale in the Remarks section. Thank you. Follow the guidance in the table below when reviewing medical evidence pertaining to peripheral nerve disabilities of the upper or lower extremities. If the DBQ or equivalent And… Then evaluate… indicates… there is no conflicting the specific under the information appropriate DC. the specific nerve(s) there is conflicting information the nerve that is most beneficial affected on what nerve is affected, but to the Veteran as long as the DC the nerves identified are within supports the symptoms. the same nerve branch the identified nerves are in all symptoms shown in the different nerve branches; medical evidence for the however, the symptoms individual nerve(s) in the identified in the medical associated nerve branches. evidence are not clearly associated with an individual nerve the examiner is unable to there is no other evidence specify the affected adequately documenting the upper extremity symptoms using nerve(s) affected nerve (the radial nerve), or lower extremity symptoms using (the common peroneal nerve). Where the disability Exception: at issue is lower extremity radiculopathy associated with SC thoracolumbar disability, follow the guidance in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.A.3.a and evaluate using (the sciatic nerve). The nerve branches and general functions of the nerve branches are Note: described in the table found in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.G.4.c. Electromyelogram (EMG) test results are required for evaluations of f. EMG and Other Tests for peripheral disabilities unless there is a previous EMG test of record or Peripheral the record contains sufficient clinical evidence to determine the extent of Nerve paralysis in the peripheral nerve. Conditions As noted in the Peripheral Nerves DBQ, EMG studies are usually rarely required to diagnose specific peripheral nerve conditions in the appropriate
Examiner: Please identify the specific nerve(s) affected. If you are unable to identify the specific nerve(s), please provide a rationale in the Remarks section. Thank you. Follow the guidance in the table below when reviewing medical evidence pertaining to peripheral nerve disabilities of the upper or lower extremities. If the DBQ or equivalent indicates… And… Then evaluate… the specific nerve(s) affected there is no conflicting information the specific under the appropriate DC. there is conflicting information on what nerve is affected, but the nerves identified are within the same nerve branch the nerve that is most beneficial to the Veteran as long as the DC supports the symptoms. the identified nerves are in different nerve branches; however, the symptoms identified in the medical evidence are not clearly associated with an individual nerve all symptoms shown in the medical evidence for the individual nerve(s) in the associated nerve branches. the examiner is unable to specify the affected nerve(s) there is no other evidence adequately documenting the affected nerve upper extremity symptoms using (the radial nerve), or lower extremity symptoms using (the common peroneal nerve). Exception: Where the disability at issue is lower extremity radiculopathy associated with SC thoracolumbar disability, follow the guidance in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.A.3.a and evaluate using (the sciatic nerve). Note: The nerve branches and general functions of the nerve branches are described in the table found in M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.G.4.c. f. EMG and Other Tests for Peripheral Nerve Conditions Electromyelogram (EMG) test results are required for evaluations of peripheral disabilities unless there is a previous EMG test of record or the record contains sufficient clinical evidence to determine the extent of paralysis in the peripheral nerve. As noted in the Peripheral Nerves DBQ, EMG studies are usually rarely required to diagnose specific peripheral nerve conditions in the appropriate
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