Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the left and right lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the conditions and service or any recognized exposure basis.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left foot disabilities, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, heart disability, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's assertions were not supported by medical evidence or credible supporting statements.,No current diagnoses of these conditions have been established in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy does not result in permanent loss or use of one or both feet, so he is ineligible for financial assistance for an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and he needs an examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

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The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection as they are related to his active duty service. The lumbosacral strain, bilateral foot disability, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as epilepsy, have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most of his daily activities independently.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his bilateral foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the left dorsal olecranon enthesophyte of the elbow, finding that it began during active service. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as it does not have jurisdiction over this issue.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her scar on the right heel is denied as she does not have more than two painful scars of the right foot, and her scars do not cover an area of 929 square centimeters or more.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her scar on the medial right foot is denied as her scars do not cover an area of 929 square centimeters or more.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her neuropathy of the right foot is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8523.

The Board has granted service connection for a right submandibular lipoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the right back and right proximal forearm, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to in-service exposure to herbicides. Service connection was denied for disability of the lymph nodes.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as gout, all secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim was also remanded for further development regarding GERD.

The Board denied service connection for upper extremities tremulous disorder and lower extremities neurological disorders due to presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and specially adapted housing/special home adaption grant due to incomplete or missing information in the records. The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 7, 1999, for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral and upper and lower extremities is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded for further review due to the need for additional medical records and SSA disability benefits records. The TDIU claim from January 1, 2011 to February 4, 2011 is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that exposure to herbicides in Thailand is presumed. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity disabilities, including radiculopathy and neuropathy, due to a right shin and foot injury in service. The claim is also remanded for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. An addendum VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s bilateral lower extremity conditions are related to herbicide agent exposure. A VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.