Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale provided in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome are being reviewed again with an emphasis on their relation to herbicide exposure and/or diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment from July 18, 2018 to April 4, 2019. His TDIU claim is granted for this period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been dismissed because the Veteran requested withdrawal of these appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless or bedridden as to require regular aid and attendance, thus SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied for the period from November 29, 2018 to July 3, 2019.,For the period from July 3, 2019 forward, a higher rating of 40 percent was granted for both right lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities is dismissed as the earliest possible effective date, January 1, 2019, has already been assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is being reviewed again with additional development of evidence and a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, attributing it to herbicide exposure. The case is being returned for further review with an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether Agent Orange exposure caused or contributed to the diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and temporary total rating due to surgery, as additional evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to potential herbicide exposure and other medical issues. The claims will be reconsidered after further investigation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for nephropathy, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for more current findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy were dismissed. The claim for service connection was granted with an effective date prior to April 15, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity. Service connection was granted for prostate disorder (benign prostatic hypertrophy). The claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypogonadism are remanded.,The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity. Service connection was granted for prostate disorder (benign prostatic hypertrophy). The claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypogonadism are remanded.,The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. Service connection was granted for benign prostatic hypertrophy. The claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypogonadism are remanded.,The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity. Service connection was granted for prostate disorder (benign prostatic hypertrophy). The claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypogonadism are remanded.,The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity. Service connection was granted for prostate disorder (benign prostatic hypertrophy). The claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypogonadism are remanded.,The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity. Service connection was granted for prostate disorder (benign prostatic hypertrophy). The claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypogonadism are remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist condition was rated at 20% from October 1, 2009. The reduction to 10% is granted and the denial of increased ratings for both conditions are upheld.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy/radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected back disability due to insufficient examination findings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he currently meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his full-time employment in a leadership position until February 2019 indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot disability, left leg neuropathy, and low back disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity as these conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.,From July 31, 2012, the Veteran was granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim for diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of new and relevant evidence. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of DM.