Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition, bilateral lumbar neuropathy sciatic nerve condition as secondary to his back condition, right hip degenerative joint disease, and left hip degenerative joint disease. The decision is based on medical evidence that supports a finding of in-service injury and current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower right extremity is denied. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper right extremity is remanded.

The Board has found the VA examinations and opinions to be inadequate due to their failure to address the Veteran's self-reported history of symptoms. The claims are being remanded for a new examination by an examiner who must consider the Veteran’s self-reported history and provide a rationale based on this information.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's other claimed conditions are secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, including addendum medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes, gout, kidney disorder, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and eye disorder.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, left knee replacement, right knee patella fracture, DDD lumbar spine with anteriololisthesis, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and tinnitus.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied as it was not submitted within one year after separation from service. The Veteran's claim was filed on October 18, 2010.,The Veteran’s evaluation for a lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent and needs to be remanded due to insufficient range of motion findings in the previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his asthma and sinus disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded TDIU beginning December 1, 2019, and SMC effective December 1, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents as his appeal is no longer before the Board because he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, poor circulation, chronic infections, Bell's Palsy, Dupuytren’s Contracture, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, a skin disorder, and plantar fasciitis, all claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Ischemic Heart Disease and TDIU prior to October 20, 2011 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sensorimotor polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye condition and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were granted in a June 2020 rating decision, thus dismissing these claims. The claim for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is being remanded as an incomplete medical opinion was provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malignant melanoma, lymphoma, tinnitus, obesity, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hyperacusis, electrical brain pain, neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and neck pain are all remanded due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been rated as moderate incomplete paralysis, but further development is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's cervical spine, right hip, left hip and left knee disabilities for additional development. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left hip disability (limitation of abduction) from November 26, 2019.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 7, 2017 for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy right and left upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic neuropathy of the four extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while serving aboard USS Ranger in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a current diagnosis and noting that elevated blood sugar levels do not constitute a disability.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be causally related to herbicide agent exposure during service. The bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is found to be a complication of the service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to inadequate examination in addressing the Veteran's theories of service connection.