Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The Board will consider all relevant evidence, including recent VA examination reports and treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that it did not have its onset during service or within one year of exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence showed no symptoms prior to 1990 and no diagnosis until 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right median nerve and right lower extremity was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity was granted with an effective date of July 3, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision. The Veteran's representative and VA General Counsel filed a joint motion for remand (JMR), which was granted by the Court.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is granted at a 10 percent level. The Veteran's TBI with migraine headaches is also granted, but only at the noncompensable (zero percent) level. Other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower left extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective from July 2019. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine remains at a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of colon cancer was granted. Service connection for hypertension, kidney stones, left leg disability, right leg blood clots (including swelling and weeping), deep vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity, neuropathy, lung disability, heart disability, sleep apnea, spinal cancer tumor, and stroke were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes and bilateral eye disability, but the issues of service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral leg disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to potential secondary etiology from service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, but he was granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 17, 2008 to February 4, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals seeking service connection for gastritis and increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The Board has dismissed these matters as a result.

The Board has determined that the reduction of ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper, and has restored the original 20 percent ratings. The issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral sciatic neuropathy are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ is instructed to verify the distance between the bungalow where the Veteran lived and the areas sprayed with herbicide.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision regarding removal of the dependent, T., from the Veteran's award effective August 27, 2014 is withdrawn.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, kidney disorder, and sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection is granted for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's heart conditions, prostate condition, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sarcoidosis, hypertension, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 50 percent and 40 percent, respectively, for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity. The evidence showed moderate to severe incomplete paralysis but did not meet criteria for complete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined resulted in debilitating effects that rendered him less capable of resisting heart disease.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 70% due to service-connected conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.