Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral and sciatic nerves were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but this claim is still considered to be on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus has been reopened due to new evidence. The claims for diabetic neuropathy and sleep apnea with COPD are being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, are being remanded for further evaluation due to a potential worsening since his last VA examination in June 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's OSA and CHF are granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is granted at a 30% evaluation.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied others. The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia, depression, tinnitus, low back disability, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are now granted. However, his hypertension, bilateral foot disabilities, sleep apnea, right and left upper and lower extremity neuropathies, and heart disability remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left upper extremity neuropathy associated with type II diabetes is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of 'severe' incomplete paralysis or more serious conditions of the nerves in the radicular groups in the left arm, and the most nearly approximated disability level is 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and the need to obtain private medical records. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she and her representative have withdrawn all issues in appeal status.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is denied.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as it is not related to the service-connected lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral idiopathic neuropathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed service in the Republic of Vietnam. Additional development is needed to verify his alleged service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, arthritis, a vision disorder, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and a kidney disorder. The decision found no in-service incurrence or exposure to herbicides that could support presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve, finding that there was no factual basis to grant such requests.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right 2nd and 3rd finger lacerations, laceration scars, and peripheral neuropathy were denied. The rash of the scrotum was also denied.,Bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.,Right hand peripheral neuropathy received a 20 percent rating from April 1971 through July 18, 2019.

The Board has already granted effective dates for the evaluations, but the Court ordered a remand due to missing VA medical records. The AOJ needs to obtain any outstanding VA medical records and provide an effective date prior to February 2, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic peripheral vascular disease, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The claim is remanded to be submitted to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent, including for neuropathy of both feet, diabetes mellitus, and a left eye disability. The AOJ is required to conduct additional development to determine if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam during his service onboard U.S.S. PICKAWAY.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ulnar neuropathy and PFB were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his conditions.