Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and SSA records, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to gain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 8, 2012. TDIU was granted effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, neuropathy, and tinnitus have been dismissed.,The application to reopen the prior final disallowance of service connection for tinnitus has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and incomplete paralysis of the femoral nerve have been granted, with specific ratings assigned.

The Veteran's appeal to establish increased initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal to establish entitlement to an effective date prior to February 15, 2017, for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran submitted two Intent to File notifications within a year of each other, but there is no evidence that either was actually received or filed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for neuropathy-like neurological symptoms in his upper and lower extremities are granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a low back disability is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a gastroenterological disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and need for clarification of facts.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including heart disorder, various types of peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not show a chronic condition of bilateral lower extremity neuropathy within one year after discharge from service, nor was there any evidence of such symptoms in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disorder is related to his service-connected bilateral foot and lower extremity disorders, resulting in a change in gait.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's right sciatic radiculopathy is related to his service-connected bilateral foot and lower extremity disorders, resulting in a change in gait.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left hands, finding no current diagnosis in either hand.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of a TDIU claim. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have increased in severity.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for instability of the right knee. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion of the right knee was denied, but a TDIU for the period beginning January 1, 2007, was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding that there is no current diagnosis and no causal relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for the cause of his death, finding that his brain herniation was not related to service. The Board also found that his Charcot-Marie Tooth disease was not related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are denied for increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 3, 2019 is dismissed because the claim was made as a freestanding request and there were no pending claims for which TDIU could have been part and parcel. The Veteran has already been granted TDIU effective from October 3, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various peripheral neuropathy disabilities, including those affecting the upper and lower extremities, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of the service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes, but has remanded it due to potential herbicide exposure in Thailand. The issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes issue.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA Form 21-8940 and medical records. The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions that may impact his employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of bilateral hearing loss has been granted, effective August 14, 2018.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted based on new evidence.