Essential Tremor

[Mama444]

Hi hoping to get some insight on essential tremor. Just got my unfit determination and waiting on ratings.

I have a neurologist diagnosis and I did a DBQ during my C&P exams specifically for essential tremor they used ICD code G25 but how they rate essential tremor just doesn’t make sense to me and I’m hoping somebody might give me a better idea. Based on what I’ve found, they consider it a medial nerve paralysis. I’m a nurse and this just doesn’t make sense to me from a physiological standpoint. Essential tremor originates from the brain which is why people like me who have resistance to propanol have to consider seizure medications or deep brain stimulation. As you can imagine having tremors in nursing is very embarrassing and makes my job more difficult and limits me on certain things for safety reasons. Does anybody have insight on what I might be looking at on this? My DBQ states that fine motor movements are a major problem for me. But I don’t have any noted “paralysis” so I’m just so confused on how they rate this. My tremor has been resistant to treatment and my doctors really want me to consider deep brain stimulation, but honestly I’d rather have shaky hands over going through brain surgery. I have other failing conditions but those rating schemes make a lot more sense to me.

 

[Rarnold3]

I have the same diagnosis and the rating system for essential tremor is really confusing. I’m a dentist and can’t practice due to my tremor. However, I don’t have paralysis either. I do not want deep brain stimulation. I’d rather have the tremor and find a different career. Let me know if you find out more, and I’ll do the same. Good luck!

 

[chaplaincharlie]

10%: If you have mild tremors in one arm or the other that occasionally interfere with your activities

20% rating for essential tremors: If you have moderate tremors in one arm or the other that frequently interfere with your activities

30% rating for essential tremors: If you have severe tremors in one arm or the other that constantly interfere with your activities

40% rating for Essential tremors: If you have paralysis that affects your non-dominant hand, it will be hard for you to do some things, but theoretically, VA thinks you can still get by mostly okay.

50% Disability Rating for Essential Tremors: You have lost much of your ability to use your dominant hand, and it is partially paralyzed.