Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve that may cause facial pain, numbness, or tingling.
Because the rating turns on how much sensory or motor function is lost, the most helpful records are those that document both. Clinical examination findings from a neurologist or other provider describing facial sensation testing — such as responses to light touch, pinprick, or temperature along the three branches of the trigeminal nerve — directly address the sensory criteria. Records showing any motor loss, such as weakness of the jaw muscles, connect to the motor side of the rating.
Imaging, nerve conduction studies, or electromyography results can provide objective evidence of nerve damage and its severity. Treatment records, including medications tried for facial pain or numbness and their results, show the ongoing nature and impact of the condition. Statements from you or people who know you describing how facial numbness, pain, or weakness affects eating, speaking, or daily tasks can show the functional effect of your symptoms, which the regulation ties directly to the degree-of-impairment determination.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
