Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg neuropathy and left leg neuropathy have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits was denied as the effective dates could not be established prior to April 6, 2020.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including the TDIU claim prior to March 18, 2016. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet schedular criteria for a TDIU before that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic rhinitis, sinus problems, lung spots, bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, and TBI.

Service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is granted.,Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is granted.,Service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents while serving near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, residuals of TBI, and joint pain have been granted. The claim for left ear hearing loss has been reopened but remanded for further examination. The Veteran's claim for neuropathy requires additional development to determine exposure and etiology. His insomnia claim is also pending further clarification. The Veteran's GERD claim remains remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was granted in May 2020, resulting in a total disability rating. The appellant seeks attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the May 2020 decision, but this is denied as the decision was not an appeal of a prior decision and no representation was provided after the initial decision.

Service connection granted for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; bladder cancer; Parkinson's disease; hypothyroidism. Service connection denied for colonic diverticula disorder, lymphedema, and tubulovillous adenoma.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder was granted a 20 percent rating prior to August 21, 2012 and a 60 percent rating from August 21, 2012 to October 17, 2019. From October 17, 2019, the Veteran's neurogenic bladder was denied any higher ratings.,The Veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy of both lower extremities were granted initial ratings of 40 percent each.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam and Thailand.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeals for all accrued benefits and substitution purposes claims related to the Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded four claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination and opinion. The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the RLE, and peripheral neuropathy of the LLE are all being reviewed with respect to their relationship to his conceded exposure to nerve and mustard gas agents.

The Veteran's loss of balance is due to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy and L2-L5 laminectomy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with radiculopathy and neuropathy. The Board granted service connection for loss of balance.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disorder, back disorder, right hip disorder, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity as these conditions are not shown to have begun during or be otherwise related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and chloracne due to in-service Agent Orange exposure. The claims are being remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathies were granted a 20 percent rating from July 3, 2013 to May 3, 2015. The lower extremities' sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy was also granted a 20 percent rating during this period. However, the Veteran's right and left lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathies were denied higher ratings from May 4, 2015.