Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, but denied tinnitus. The issues regarding neuropathy of the lower extremities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking evidence about the Veteran's part-time work as an auctioneer and determining whether it qualifies as marginal employment. The VA examinations are also needed to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Veteran's prolonged unauthorized absence, thus finding that his character of discharge from service for the period from October 1965 to March 1973 does not constitute a statutory or regulatory bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding no link to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted from February 20, 2019 to September 15, 2019. The TDIU claim prior to September 16, 2019 was denied.

The Veteran's diabetes-related nerve damage in his lower extremities and left upper extremity has been rated at 20 percent, while his right upper extremity is rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and left upper extremity have all received increased disability ratings to reflect their severity.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 19, 2020 has been granted.

The Veteran is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to the effective loss of use of one or both feet caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus has been denied.,The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded.

Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is restored, effective November 1, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the previous VA examination did not consider the collective impact of all his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The Veteran does not have an immune deficiency syndrome or fibromyalgia as claimed.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the right upper extremity, finding that it is characterized as moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left thumb and hand disability, right-sided head, neck, and shoulder disability, and bilateral lower extremity disability.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current foot disabilities and his in-service left foot sprain. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DM, erectile dysfunction secondary to DM, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to exposure to environmental contaminants, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's representative provided evidence suggesting potential exposure during service to herbicides or agents akin to herbicides, which triggered VA’s duty to further develop the claims.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus has been granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of cataracts, hypertension, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and cervical spine disability for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran must be provided with an appropriate VA medical opinion to clarify the etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disability and stroke, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is not presumed as he did not serve in Vietnam or its surrounding areas. However, VA acknowledges potential exposure to various chemicals and toxins at Fort McClellan.