Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity peroneal nerve palsy, as well as atrial fibrillation. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to herbicide exposure or malaria.,The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for atrial fibrillation due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including shrapnel wounds of the left leg and back, liver condition, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, adrenal gland cyst, and thyroid disease. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as these conditions are presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because he did not meet the criteria of needing regular aid and attendance, nor was he considered to be housebound.,The Veteran's application for non-service-connected disability pension benefits was also denied due to his income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Veteran's lumbar disc syndrome and sciatic neuropathy were denied increased ratings, with the exception of a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy in both lower extremities as of January 24, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient medical opinions.,The Veteran asserts that his conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions on whether the Veteran's left lower extremity neuropathy is proximately due or aggravated by service-connected conditions. The Veteran will be asked to provide updated private treatment records, and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner will be requested.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and associated complications, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that further development is necessary due to the Veteran's worsening diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess his current level of impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 27, 2010. The ratings for renal dysfunction, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and muscle group IV disability are denied. Service connection for hepatitis C and scar residuals from appendectomy, thoracotomy, laparotomy and cut-down scars in the right groin is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of erectile dysfunction, heart condition (coronary artery disease), diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of December 12, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating prior to July 20, 2018 was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,After July 20, 2018, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was also denied due to insufficient evidence of complete paralysis of all radicular groups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment is not precluded by his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of cold exposure in service and concluding that the condition did not have its onset during or as a result of military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed all three appeals for earlier effective dates as the Veteran did not appeal the original decisions that granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical records and authorization.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been denied as there is no evidence of moderate, severe, or complete paralysis.