Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the disability is primarily manifest by mild to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and tinnitus, have been granted. However, the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin disorder (including actinic keratosis and rosacea), diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Board has denied service connection for asbestosis and remanded the issue of service connection for a neurological disability of the lower extremities (claimed as peripheral neuropathy). The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of asbestosis, but his subjective sensory symptoms are consistent with small fiber neuropathy. The Board requested an addendum opinion to determine if these symptoms are related to military service and herbicide agent exposure.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and a specific opinion on the severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of chemotherapy including ulnar neuropathy and thigh numbness, specifically addressing the impact of chemotherapy agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether ischemic stroke is related to service-connected cardiovascular disease, and a new examination is needed to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been granted, with some changes in the effective dates and ratings assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed disabilities, finding that he was not exposed to herbicides during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy in both lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether his reported thigh cramps during service are related to his current condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted a 40% rating for the period prior to November 8, 2019. The ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and TDIU are denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because there is insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. Additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations, is required.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and kidney failure as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and burning and tingling sensations in the feet has been denied. The Board found no current disability, and there is conflicting evidence regarding whether these symptoms are related to Agent Orange exposure or a spinal condition.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for various service connection claims, and has remanded the issues of service connection for trigger finger of the right middle finger and right ring fingers.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Effective May 24, 2017, the Veteran is now entitled to service connection for various conditions including Parkinson’s disease with weakness of the left lower extremity, right knee strain, instability and subluxation, loss of sense of smell, constipation, and other related issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot condition (toe condition), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, left leg laceration, LUE peripheral neuropathy, and DMII have been denied.,No new evidence has been provided to support the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for neuropathy of the RIGHT and LEFT lower extremities as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt of a claim was August 30, 2016.