Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran’s left upper extremity neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome are rated at 30 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran’s right upper extremity neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome were granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity femoral peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates. The specific issues include bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, increased ratings for coronary artery disease, and effective dates for erectile dysfunction and SMC.

The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both the left and right lower extremities, finding that it is related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity is denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are each rated at 20 percent, while his right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran’s left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral legs and feet, finding no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to support his claims of lumbar back disability secondary to leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for GERD is also granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbar back disability secondary to leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.

The Board dismissed all claims for increased ratings and denied service connection for dental trauma. The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a TDIU determination.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and its residuals, erectile dysfunction, and Parkinson’s disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of service connection for bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities due to a lack of medical opinion regarding herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from prior to 2008, request private treatment records from Kaiser Permanente, and schedule an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, representing moderate severity. The Board finds that the symptoms described do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities required the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left arm scar was denied as the evidence did not show any disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.,Service connection for a left arm musculoskeletal disability, left arm neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were all denied. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are not related to service or herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left arm scar was denied as the evidence did not show any disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.,Service connection for left arm neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were both denied. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are not related to service or herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied as the evidence did not show any disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that it is directly related to a back injury sustained during service.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic cardiomyopathy, bilateral eye disabilities, chronic renal disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to inadequate development.,Specifically, additional medical opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, migraines, and peripheral neuropathy of both hands and feet due to incomplete records and unclear etiology.