Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the condition is related to his diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from July 27, 2009, to July 9, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are denied. The appeal is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of current GERD, hypertension, and cataracts.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and SMC were previously remanded by the Board, but have been returned to the Board due to a Court Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).,For the period prior to July 21, 2009, the Veteran was not found unemployable based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the proposed discontinuance of service connection for diabetic neuropathy in both upper extremities was not implemented, and thus premature.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to a need for an examination.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for CAD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is precluded from obtaining or maintaining any gainful occupation due solely to these service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy is granted a 30 percent disability rating. The left knee strain, status post anterior cruciate ligament tear surgical repair, is granted a 10 percent disability rating prior to July 21, 2021 and denied for any higher rating from that date.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, eye disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), vasectomy, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities is not shown to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim has been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for pharyngitis, fibromyalgia, polyneuropathy (tingling and numbness in bilateral upper extremities), and urinary tract infection due to unresolved medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for right humeral fracture, right radial nerve neuropathy, hearing loss, TMJ dysfunction, right index finger fracture, and inguinal hernia as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tension headaches, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension due to incomplete development. The Veteran will need an in-person or telehealth examination for his tension headaches, updated VA treatment records must be obtained, and additional opinions are needed regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper and lower extremities, finding that it was incurred due to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service connection for DMII and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted effective March 9, 2018. The rating for DMII remains at 20%.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities are denied as the earliest date for which service connection can be awarded is March 14, 2017.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was managed with insulin and a restricted diet, but did not require regulation of activities. The right and left sciatic neuropathy were each rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 8520, while the right and left femoral neuropathy were each rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 8526.,The Veteran's orthostatic hypotension was due to his service-connected bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.