Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for neurological disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, dry mouth condition, and nosebleeds due to presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional evidence regarding his eye disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents, including as secondary to a service-connected disability. The case requires an addendum medical opinion regarding the likely etiology of the diagnosed neuropathy.

The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded due to the lack of a nexus opinion.,The Veteran's right upper extremity condition, claimed as neuropathy, is remanded due to insufficient development and consideration of all relevant evidence.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability (GERD and acid reflux) is remanded due to inadequate examination report addressing the onset and aggravation of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied because he failed to report for necessary VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, a right lower extremity skin disability, a left lower extremity skin disability, and cardiovascular disability to obtain additional medical opinions and complete development.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being referred back to the AOJ for adjudication.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including right shoulder disorder, knee disorders, ankle disorders, foot disorders, respiratory disorder, and upper extremity neuropathy. The remand requires additional medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, CAD, DM II, low back condition, left knee condition, and peripheral neuropathy) are of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment from May 15, 2008 to May 8, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rating in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of his right, left upper extremities, and left lower extremity due to incomplete treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for non-VA medical providers who have treated him.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left foot or a rating in excess of 40 percent for the right foot after February 1, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of death, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and burial benefits at the service-connected rate due to a lack of evidence showing that his death was caused by VA medical treatment or negligence.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot as these conditions are not related to service or presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy has been granted increased ratings for his right and left upper extremity conditions, with the majority of the ratings being at the 30 percent level.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and PAD of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to a grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected sensorineural hearing loss. The appeals for service connection for DMII, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, CAD, and left shoulder disorder are remanded due to lack of evidence.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and PTSD, but denied for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to March 22, 2019, is granted.

The Board dismissed the issues of an increased rating for a lumbar disability and service connection for left ulnar neuropathy, as well as the claims for migraine headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, tinnitus, eczema, and reduction of knee ratings. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve due to inadequate development regarding presumptive exposure to herbicides.