Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded four cases involving peripheral neuropathy of the Veteran's upper and lower extremities due to additional significant evidence being submitted after a previous Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for further review of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for ischemic heart disease and granted his claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease and coronary atherosclerosis), as well as peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, all presumed due to herbicide exposure during service. The appeal regarding cataracts, retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, knee arthritis, tinnitus, and various nerve entrapments, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded all other issues on appeal due to the need for additional development of the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity neuropathy, finding that there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence of such conditions.

The Board dismissed all compensation claims under 38 U.S.C. � 1151 for various disabilities due to VA medical treatment and surgery on April 12, 2010, and May 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both legs, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 7, 2017 or in excess of 20 percent from December 7, 2017 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity as there is no current disability found, and the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower neuropathy, chronic kidney disease, macular edema, retinopathy, and hypertension are all granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes disability. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted with an effective date of January 26, 2012.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was also established with the same effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. Service connection was denied for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.,The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these conditions, thus granting service connection based on the benefit of doubt.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right foot disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for his neck condition. His request to reopen the claim for service connection for lymphedema of the bilateral lower extremities has been granted, and he is now presumptively entitled to service connection for this condition due to a latent filarial infection incurred during service in the Philippines. The diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded as they depend on whether the Veteran had qualifying service in the Republic of Vietnam or not. His respiratory condition claim is also remanded for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right ulnar neuropathy, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, and residuals of a right wrist fracture are denied. The Board has remanded these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, breast cancer residuals, cholecystectomy residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), traumatic brain injury with residuals, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder is remanded.