Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, chronic otitis externa, diabetes mellitus type II, colon polyps, residuals of a neck tumor excision, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. The issues are related to new evidence that reopened these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability with herniated discs and stenosis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and lumbar radiculopathy have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, increased rating claims, and effective date claims due to incomplete medical records and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerves has been granted initial ratings of 40 percent, effective July 16, 2018. The Veteran is also awarded TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied. The rating for osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with history of T-12 and L-1 compression fracture is denied, as are the claims for sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to February 24, 2017 and left lower extremity prior to February 24, 2017. The rating for sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity since February 24, 2017 is denied, as are those for the left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The issues include left upper extremity radiculopathy/peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, all secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that it was caused by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder in early remission.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an eye disorder was granted in March 2020, but the appeal is dismissed as moot because the claim has been granted. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, and stroke residuals, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Board also denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to January 4, 2011 for lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to May 17, 2012 for lumbar spine disability, and a rating in excess of 40 percent since May 17, 2012 for lumbar spine disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses of cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for right hip disabilities and service connection for right elbow ulnar nerve neuropathy have been dismissed. The appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for right elbow ulnar nerve neuropathy, claimed as secondary to a service-connected left wrist fracture with retrograde ulnar nerve neuritis, has been granted. His initial rating for major depressive disorder is set at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including hypertension, IBS, left knee disability, slurred speech, and right and left foot disabilities. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, left hand disability, and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability (claimed as coronary artery disease), have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or exposure to herbicide agents that would support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity, as well as for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound residuals, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee patellar tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of October 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from June 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded three issues: rating for residuals of left ulnar neuropathy, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and service connection for a right elbow disability. The Veteran's examinations were not rescheduled despite his attempts to do so.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the complexity of the claims and the need for a medical opinion. The Veteran's conditions are related to chemotherapy administered at the VA Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy have been remanded due to the need for further development. The claim for PTSD remains denied as it does not meet the criteria for a 70% or higher rating.