Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis, Morton's neuroma, pes planus, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet have been granted. The claim for thyroid disorder is remanded.,Service connection has been established for plantar fasciitis on a direct basis due to its onset during active duty service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employability, including a lack of an occupational evaluation. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional private treatment records and associate them with the record.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and left leg conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claims for the periods prior to February 1, 2017 and from December 1, 2018 were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of employment. The claim for TDIU during the period from February 1, 2017 to December 1, 2018 was dismissed as moot due to receipt of SMC based on a combined schedular evaluation of 100 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to unresolved questions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's polyneuropathy, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted.,Effective February 21, 2019, a 20 percent rating has been assigned for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. Effective April 4, 2018, a 20 percent rating has been assigned for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left peroneal neuropathy as it is not secondary to a service-connected disability or related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent after November 2, 2010. The left foot and ankle conditions are each rated at 30 percent. Diabetes mellitus and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are both rated at 10 percent. Bilateral cataracts are rated as 10 percent effective October 28, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about a VHA expert's opinion on whether the Veteran's right breast cancer is related to exposure to Agent Orange. The issues of secondary service connection for various conditions are also being remanded as they are intertwined with the primary claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and additional SMC were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2 or additional SMC due to erectile dysfunction. For right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, a 30 percent rating was granted since July 25, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for purposes of adjudicating the Veteran's claims on appeal and remands them for further development. The issues include service connection for spinal nerve degeneration with pain and numbness, back condition and degenerative arthritis of the spine; dermatitis or eczema and onychomycosis of the toenails; and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spondylosis and discogenic disease due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, arthritis of various joints, constipation and neuropathy of the lower extremities, and SMC due to unresolved issues in the medical opinions provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence showing the condition manifested within a year of herbicide exposure or being otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 40 percent and no higher.,Diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent and no higher.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his associated peripheral neuropathy of the right shoulder is rated at 40 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatitis on the right and left legs, and scar formation of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was granted service connection.,Service connection was also granted for prostate cancer, diabetic retinopathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded these claims for further action, including determining if the surviving spouse can substitute as the claimant.