Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities, as secondary to diabetes mellitus (diabetes), due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acid reflux, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and glaucoma have been denied.,The Veteran was not provided with VA examinations or medical opinions as required by law.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding that it had onset in service and is related to the Veteran's diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the Veteran’s SSA records and update VA treatment records before readjudicating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, heart disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and neuropathies were denied as the evidence did not support a link to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 100% effective October 31, 2019. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for autonomic neuropathy, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, nerve damage of the right arm, and peripheral neuropathy of the left arm due to Agent Orange exposure. The case will be reviewed with addendum VA medical opinions and additional private treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for fibromyalgia, MDD, diabetes mellitus and its related peripheral neuropathies, GERD, OSA, and a foot disorder. The claims are not currently resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied. The claim for an effective date prior to May 21, 2013 for diabetes mellitus type 2 has also been denied.,Service connection was not granted for carpal tunnel syndrome in either upper extremity due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's low back disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and residuals of a cold injury are all granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and entitlement to SMC based on housebound criteria in excess of the period of March 3, 2010 through April 30, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy and back disability, finding that these conditions are not related to active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred during or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent or 40 percent, respectively.,Higher ratings for sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities were granted at 40 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremity as they are not related to service.,There is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand or Vietnam that would support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform activities of daily living without assistance, including bathing and dressing. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for residuals of a back injury was denied, as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,His petition to reopen his claim for right arm condition was granted, as the new evidence related to an unestablished fact (the etiology of the right arm condition) and raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a neurologic disability (claimed as neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy), finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.