Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II is granted at a 20 percent rating, effective from November 19, 2015. The Veteran also receives a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and peripheral neuropathy. The appellant is asked to provide more information about his periods of federalized National Guard service and any related diseases or injuries.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral cold injury residuals of the feet and peripheral neuropathy. However, the appeal as to these issues was closed by the AOJ in June 2014 due to an incorrect determination regarding the timely filing of the Veteran's VA Form 9. The Board is unable to locate any written withdrawal of appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because there is no evidence that VA treatment caused his current left foot disability, including dropfoot and neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete visual acuity and visual field test results from VA optometry consultations. The issues of a rating in excess of 30 percent for diabetic retinopathy and a TDIU rating prior to May 8, 2013 are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, and various extremity disorders due to insufficient evidence. The issues of service connection are also being remanded for a VA examination regarding peripheral artery disease and PTSD.

Your claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. You now have a claim to reopen for bilateral hearing loss, emphysema, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.,The Board has determined that you have new and material evidence to support your previously denied claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (RUE) and left upper extremity (LUE), as well as peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE).,Service connection was also denied for a prostate disorder, as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between his current conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence, including VA and private treatment records. An addendum opinion is needed from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 10 percent, the lowest available rating. The Board found that his condition does not warrant a higher rating as it only manifests as mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's vertigo is not secondary to his service-connected idiopathic polyneuropathy, but a remand is needed for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service, and it is not related to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability was granted with a 40% rating effective March 2, 2017. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating remains pending as the current rating does not meet his expectations.,The Veteran's PTSD claim resulted in a 50% initial rating effective March 2, 2017, with no further increase sought.,The Veteran's status post shrapnel wound to the lower left abdomen/groin with damage to the ilioinguinal nerve was not granted an increased rating as his disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on severity or incapacitating episodes.,Service connection for total disability due to service-connected disabilities was granted, but no effective date prior to March 2, 2017 is awarded.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder, low back disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the right leg as these conditions are not shown to be causally related to military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran suffers from a separate right foot disability and if so, whether it is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and psychiatric disorders, as well as outstanding medical records from his 1995 myocardial infarction treatment. The AOJ is required to obtain these records and provide a new opinion on service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new VA examination considering the aggregate effect of all his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus were denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a rating more than 10 percent prior to April 17, 2014 or more than 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.