Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities due to inadequate examination and failure to obtain an adequate etiology opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disorder characterized as peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as due to Agent Orange exposure or as secondary to service-connected disease or injury, is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that it did not manifest within one year after service discharge and is not otherwise related to his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient development and examination, including missing private treatment records and an addendum VA medical opinion for the low back disorder. The examiner must address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injuries and current symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, did not reopen the claims for atrial fibrillation and CMT neuropathy due to lack of new and material evidence, and found that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, lung disability, heart disability, as well as upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies. The claims are based on direct evidence of a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. The issue is remanded for further development.,Service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied due to lack of exposure to herbicides in service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary bypass surgery was also denied as there is no evidence of onset within a year of separation from service or causal relationship.,Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was reopened based on new evidence suggesting an onset within one year of service. The Veteran's other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been evaluated at 20 percent each. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as his last employer was able to accommodate his hearing loss and he has no other evidence showing that his disabilities render him unable to work.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disability, GERD, hypertension, and vertigo. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence received since the previous denial.

The Board has remanded the service connection issues of hypertension, a back condition, a heart condition, neuropathy of the arms, hands, and legs, dementia, and tinnitus due to pending issues related to cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right leg neuropathy and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, with the most severe symptom being mild incomplete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected lung disability, need further review and are being remanded.

The Veteran's rotoscoliosis of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, effective September 26, 2017. The issues regarding higher initial ratings for right lower extremity neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered in the aggregate, limit his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has ordered additional examination and opinion regarding this issue.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathies involving the sciatic nerve have been granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective January 30, 2009. The appeal for TDIU prior to September 25, 2013 is remanded.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with sciatic nerve involvement have been granted initial ratings of 40 percent each, effective December 8, 2016.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are rated at 20 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

An increased disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted prior to August 14, 2012.,An increased disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted from August 14, 2012.,An increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted prior to May 20, 2017.,A disability rating higher than 30 percent for left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy involving all radicular groups is denied from May 20, 2017 to July 1, 2020.,An increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted from July 1, 2020.,An increased disability rating of 40 percent for right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted prior to May 20, 2017.,A disability rating higher than 40 percent for right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy involving all radicular groups is denied from May 20, 2017 to July 1, 2020.,An increased disability rating of 40 percent for right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted from July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's left hand and elbow numbness secondary to ulnar neuropathy is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher, for the entire appeal period. The Veteran's hypertension remains at a 10 percent rating.