Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection is remanded for peripheral neuropathy and a disability resulting in discoloration of the hands.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cyst has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current disability or link to service. The claims of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis and back disability are denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since April 30, 2004. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and left-hand peripheral neuropathy, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment. The Board granted this claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II has been rated at 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection in April 2017. The Board found that his condition did not warrant a higher evaluation as it only required restricted diet, oral hypoglycemics, and one daily insulin injection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed tremor and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral feet.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service connected. The other claims for Parkinson’s disease, tremors of the head and hands, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to lack of updated medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU. Prior to January 23, 2012, the Veteran was granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are rated at 40 percent each, meeting the criteria for a moderate incomplete paralysis of the lower radicular group.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The decision did not specify the basis for denial.

The Board has remanded two issues: the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disability, including Dupuytren’s contracture and Raynaud’s Syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound, and his claim for service connection for chronic urticaria. The remand requires additional medical opinions on these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including COPD and peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to herbicide agent exposure. The effective date of his total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also being remanded.