Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records related to an incident involving PCP ingestion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have rendered him unemployable since December 2, 1996. The decision grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus due to incomplete examination and conflicting evidence.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity neuropathy. The issue of TDIU prior to March 20, 2012 is remanded as the Veteran's last full-time employment date and disability onset date are not known.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions related to herbicide exposure have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied service connection for a disorder manifested by shortness of breath and remanded the issues regarding diabetes mellitus, PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety disorder associated with PTSD, hypertension, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected foot disabilities. The issues of asthma and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the medical evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted service connection. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain cancer and lung cancer are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage criteria for a TDIU, and his age and prior employment as a letter carrier prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran meets the requirements for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder and multiple peripheral neuropathies. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 19, 2019 for service connection and separate ratings for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The exception to the general rule allowed the effective dates to be extended back to June 19, 2019.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. Service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been granted.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 40 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted, but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy resulted in mild intermittent pain and mild paresthesias, which the Board found to be best characterized as mild incomplete paralysis. The appeal for increased ratings was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy were granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. However, the Veteran was denied higher ratings for his right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy and a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that it is related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neuropathy of the bilateral feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) due to incomplete opinions regarding service connection.