Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, and will be reconsidered after adjudication of other service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, left lower extremity alcohol polyneuropathy, and right lower extremity alcohol polyneuropathy have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lower lumbar neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as an increased rating for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, has been dismissed. The Veteran was granted TDIU.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and cellulitis as secondary to service-connected diabetes due to their interrelated nature.

The Board has restored a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, external cutaneous nerve and granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, and a noncompensable rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, external cutaneous nerve. The Board found that the Veteran requires regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted with effective dates of August 26, 2019. A rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was also granted with an effective date of May 30, 2011.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's increased rating for a voiding dysfunction and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding no CUE in the July 2019 decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic peripheral neuropathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment.,Financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, with erectile dysfunction and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of regulation of activities by a physician.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no evidence of congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction between 30 and 50 percent, or workload less than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history for the period from January 1, 2011, to February 4, 2011, or prior to January 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 25, 2018 are denied as there was no communication prior to that date that could be construed as a claim.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are denied as the evidence does not support such an award.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right foot neuropathy and dystrophic toenails, and left foot neuropathy and dystrophic toenails are denied due to lack of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back disability is denied as the evidence does not support such an award.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a relationship to active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a neurologic disability of the left lower extremity, including peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the LLE is granted. The claim for left shoulder disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) remains pending.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to service connection and disability ratings, including headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The effective dates for TDIU have also been remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of his left lower extremity peroneal and tibial nerves, as the previous opinions did not adequately consider the raised secondary contention. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions arose during or were caused by the Veteran's active service.,Service connection was also granted for benign brain tumor. The Board found that there was no competent medical opinion linking this condition to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The case will be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions on these issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings on all of his service-connected conditions, except for loss of automatic movements and speech changes which were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective April 1, 2019. The issue of TDIU prior to September 13, 2018 is remanded for extraschedular consideration.