Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and bilateral eye disabilities as he did not timely appeal the Statements of the Case (SOC).,The Board denied service connection for a left leg disability, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his service-connected left ankle disability or any in-service injury. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is related to normal aging rather than service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding a VA examination for mixed polyneuropathy of both lower extremities. The examiner is asked to determine if there is separate impairment for each affected nerve or if the impairment and symptoms overlap.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted. The Board found that there were sufficient in-service manifestations to establish a current disability during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left leg, left foot, and right foot due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's service treatment records are not available, but he is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations for various conditions are remanded due to need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted initial ratings, but his request for a higher rating for PTSD has been denied. His claim for an increased rating for diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities (left and right) is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service and post-service are to be considered, along with any relevant medical literature.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of each upper and lower extremity as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's DPN of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve in both lower extremities have been rated at 20 percent since February 2, 2010. The Board denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are all granted service connection. However, his low back disorder is not due to a service-connected disability, and his bilateral peripheral neuropathy is not related to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. The claims for service connection for myelofibrosis and hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, foot fungus, left shoulder disorder, restless leg syndrome, rhinitis, sinusitis, sleep disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left great toe neuropathy, finding that her symptoms are manifested by moderate impairment. The decision also addressed the propriety of the initial rating and found no error in the change from DC 5000 to DC 8520.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral peripheral neuropathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to increased symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and posttraumatic stress disorder, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 28, 2007. The Board granted an earlier effective date for his TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further analysis of service connection, specifically regarding the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as the evidence did not establish an in-service incurrence or diagnosis within one year of separation from active duty. Service connection was also denied on a secondary basis due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess his disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment, leading to a TDIU for the period prior to June 29, 2017. Beginning February 28, 2019, he is granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected PTSD.