Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

All claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right ankle disability and left leg neuropathy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right ankle condition and left leg neuropathy are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision problems is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a vision disability.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy, coronary artery disease, sleep condition (likely sleep apnea), headache condition, and psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any such disability was incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his first post-service year onset of persistent symptoms.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity neuropathy of the sciatic nerve have been granted initial 40 percent ratings, effective March 5, 2010.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity anterior crural (femoral) peripheral neuropathy have not met criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities due to inadequate development regarding exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's RUE and LUE diabetic peripheral neuropathy were evaluated based on the severity of their symptoms from November 30, 2015 to March 20, 2017. From March 21, 2017 onwards, a higher evaluation was granted for both upper extremities.,The Veteran's LLE and RLE diabetic peripheral neuropathy were evaluated based on the severity of their symptoms from November 30, 2015 to August 28, 2016. From August 29, 2016 to March 20, 2017, a higher evaluation was granted for both lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted. The claims for service connection related to low back, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and upper extremity peripheral neuropathies, vascular diseases, and GERD due to incomplete records. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his Social Security Administration records and any private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of peripheral neuropathy, recurrent fungal infections of the ears and feet, and arthritis of the hands and back. The decision also remanded the claim for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as she is capable of sedentary work and has the skills to find suitable employment in areas such as accounting, auditing, and management analysis.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and skin disorders are related to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and ED have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding no current diagnosis and no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within a presumptive period.,The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, noting that there was no evidence of a compensable degree of disability within one year after discharge from service. The Board acknowledged presumed exposure to herbicide agents but found no evidence of early onset neuropathy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, left thumb disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not shown to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of a left thumb disability or peripheral neuropathy in the Veteran’s service records. The Board finds that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and dermatitis of the feet due to outstanding VA treatment records and further clarification on the extent of his service-connected dermatitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and a need for a more contemporaneous examination of the Veteran's right foot disability. Additionally, a TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection of right upper, right lower and left lower peripheral neuropathy disabilities as they are not caused by or a result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as his current symptoms may be related to his service-connected cerebral infarction. The TDIU claim is also being deferred until these other claims can be adjudicated.