Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral neuropathy of the upper extremities and cervical spine DJD due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The VA examinations did not fully address whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service or caused by his service-connected right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, were denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims. The effective date of a 10 percent rating for scars associated with cystic acne face and neck is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, colon cancer, throat disability (esophageal spasms), hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or exposure to herbicide agents. The VA is required to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, as his condition did not manifest during or within one year after service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for vertigo was denied. The claim for service connection for persistent depression with anxiety is granted, and the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is reopened.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and migraine headaches are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence associated with his claims file.

The Veteran's left lower extremity atherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease was not found to meet the criteria for an increased rating from May 17, 2011 until February 8, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU was denied from May 17, 2011 until September 29, 2014 and granted from May 14, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran has current disabilities of RLE radiculopathy/neuropathy and BUE peripheral neuropathy, and whether these conditions are related to his service-connected back disability or in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for PTSD, hypertension secondary to diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Veteran must undergo further examinations to address the credibility of his stressor claims and the medical link between his conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, Type-II, with erectile dysfunction is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 6, 2012 for the grants of service connection for diabetic nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for diabetic nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, bilateral upper and lower diabetic peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities remains April 28, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, DM II, right-hand injury, skin disease, HTN, bilateral eye disability, and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity are all found to be related to service. The claims for ED, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity, and left-hand injury were not reopened due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding opinions on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused by his service-connected disabilities. The case is now remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to outstanding medical records and potential herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's reported stressors were not verified, and there was no medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed as diabetic neuropathy), left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed as diabetic neuropathy), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed as diabetic neuropathy), and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed as diabetic neuropathy).

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder had its onset during service and remands other issues including service connection for residuals of a stroke, rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis. The issues of bilateral peripheral neuropathy and cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.