Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, concluding that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's left trigeminal neuropathy is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to incomplete paralysis of the nerve.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity neuropathy has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.,Service connection for weight gain is denied as obesity does not qualify as a disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's back disability remains on remand, with the need for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by service-connected left total knee replacement and/or right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus.,Right lower extremity varicose veins and left lower extremity varicose veins remain on remand, requiring an addendum opinion to determine their etiology and whether they are secondary to service-connected left total knee replacement and/or right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus.,Erectile dysfunction remains on remand, requiring an addendum opinion regarding its etiology and whether it is secondary to medications for service-connected disabilities or hypertension.,Hypertension remains on remand, requiring an addendum opinion regarding its etiology and whether it is directly related to service or secondary to service-connected left total knee replacement and/or right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, to include as secondary to exposure to herbicides, should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy and remanded the issue of increased rating for his left shoulder impingement syndrome. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability as the Veteran did not have evidence of an in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,The Board also denied service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been granted increased ratings of 20 percent, but no higher. The bilateral upper extremity condition remains under review.,The Board found that the BUE neuropathy is secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves have been granted initial 20 percent ratings.

An increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is granted from December 6, 2011.,Service connection for a skin condition (fibromatous type changes and keloid) is granted. The Veteran's current disability includes bilateral cataracts and glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.,PTSD claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, kidney infection, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower back pain is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is also remanded.,An increased rating for diabetes mellitus secondary to cataracts and glaucoma is remanded.,Service connection for kidney infection is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral ankle pain is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.,Service connection for lower back pain is remanded.,Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including as due to herbicide agent exposure. The RO is instructed to obtain Reserve service medical records and flight logs from aircrafts that were maintained and/or launched from the USS Bon Homme Richard during the Veteran's period of active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding no CUE in the March 1985 rating decision. The Veteran was granted service connection for a back disability but not for neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left foot drop, or urinary disability.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney disease, hematuria, vertigo/vestibular disorder, and chronic cerumen buildup of the left ear. The claims for tinnitus have not been readjudicated as no new and relevant evidence has been received.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, small artery aneurysm of the left brachial artery, and left median neuropathy were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the medical records showed that the Veteran had well-controlled DM with no need for insulin or dietary restrictions, which precluded a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DM), left below knee amputation associated with DM, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy was granted on a presumptive basis based on exposure to herbicide agents. The effective date of these benefits is July 2, 2013.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the liberalizing law that allowed for this type of service connection became effective June 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right hand neuropathy was denied, and the TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected status post left knee ACL reconstruction and for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected left leg neuropathy prior to December 9, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter due to outstanding VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder. The diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and upper extremities are also being remanded as they may be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the severance of service connection for various conditions and the determination of effective dates due to a potential OIG investigation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the feet and knees, have rendered her unable to secure or maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).