Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's request to reopen his accrued benefits claim for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted. The other claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, hypertension and nephropathy, right leg diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left leg diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right arm diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left arm diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to the promulgation of a Board decision.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection claims due to his death. The appeal is dismissed as there are no surviving parties eligible to continue the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for hypertension and diabetic polyneuropathy of both lower extremities. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment since November 2011, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective May 7, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for soft tissue sarcoma. The remaining claims of service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, skin cancer, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and COPD are remanded due to inadequate development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current disabilities and service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU prior to October 27, 2020, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment before this date.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and records are needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his neuropathy. The claims for increased ratings will also be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board will attempt to verify whether the planes that operated on the USS Coral Sea landed in or near Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure, is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current condition to service or to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both the left and right lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty is at least as likely as not the cause of his current condition.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, effective February 12, 2018. The Board found that his condition met the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate ratings for his left forearm disability, including ankylosis of the elbow, neuropathy of the left arm, and impairment of supination and/or pronation of the left forearm.

The Board has granted service connection for residual scarring following shrapnel removal, but denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange. The Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are being reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, which is presumed related to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran contends his symptoms began during service and have continued since.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including neck and back issues, peripheral neuropathies, and traumatic brain injury. The Veteran's death during the appeal process means that no further action can be taken on these claims.