Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 29, 2014 and a rating in excess of 50 percent since that time.,The Veteran was granted TDIU due to his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and right lower extremity neuropathy due to a lack of recent VA examination records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral lower limb polyneuropathy, finding that it began during his active service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted from May 11, 2011. The Veteran's right ankle disability and abdominal scar are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including acute intermittent porphyria with iron deficiency anemia, somatization disorder, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left knee instability, and right knee chondromalacia patella, rated at a combined 70 percent prior to December 18, 2015, did not render him unemployable for substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning on January 11, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. Prior to this date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there was no prior claim or denial concerning these benefits.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for CAD has also been denied due to the lack of a prior claim or denial.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetic nephropathy, and various types of neuropathy related to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran was presumed exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were denied as there was no prior claim or denial concerning these benefits.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied because the earliest claim received by VA was on February 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, neuropathy of the RLE, and neuropathy of the LUE.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, service connection for dizziness, and service connection for a right elbow condition due to inextricably intertwined issues. The claims for residuals of a left foot fracture and bilateral plantar fasciitis remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and opinion regarding his peripheral neuropathy, including its onset in service and any relationship to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran also seeks service connection for his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type II Diabetes Mellitus and its associated complications, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for various ratings and service connection claims are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the direct and secondary service connection for sleep apnea, as well as the aggravation of sleep apnea by service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to neuropathy and right knee disorder, as well as low back disorders, are remanded due to inadequate or insufficient medical opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and remanded the claims of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities due to a failure to review clarifying medical opinions.

The Veteran disagrees with the reduction in his VA compensation payment due to a military retired pay adjustment, which occurred in June 2021. The RO did not provide proper notice of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates of October 22, 2007, were granted for the diagnoses.

The Board has restored the previously reduced ratings for right and left lower extremity (femoral) peripheral neuropathy from a 20 percent to a 20 percent rating, effective July 1, 2020.