Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 40 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's basal cell and squamous cell skin carcinoma, psoriasis, inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, essential tremor, and cataracts with detached retinas due to exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The decision is based on a finding of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including an addendum to a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected right wrist/CTS.

The Veteran's headaches, diagnosed as tension headaches, are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied as there is no evidence that it became manifest in service or within a year after separation.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, including as secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, was also denied due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower extremities, which is now considered service connected, was granted. The Board found that the symptoms were related to his lumbar spine disability and not directly related to service.

The Veteran's right hand peripheral neuropathy is rated at 30 percent from October 13, 2015. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted for either period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he has been consistently engaged in substantially gainful employment throughout the relevant period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for peripheral neuropathy, inflammatory polyarthralgia as secondary to peripheral neuropathy, and sicca syndrome as secondary to peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The effective date issue is also on appeal and must be addressed before further review can occur.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate and remanded for further action. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, vascular disease, neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and a cervical spine disability due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for service connection for hypertension is also remanded due to a need for additional development regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete employment information and the need for a VA examination to assess his functional impairments.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for peripheral neuropathy of both feet due to VA treatment, and also for service connection for no feeling in both feet.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The rating for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, diabetes mellitus type 2, left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus have all been denied.

The Veteran's service connection for left eye cataracts, liver disease, pityriasis rosacea, left knee osteoarthritis, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension has been restored or reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not manifested by deformity of the penis, and therefore does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II requires only restricted diet, insulin, and an oral hypoglycemic agent, but did not require any regulation of activities. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities prior to February 7, 2012 have been granted at a 20% rating.