Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were previously discontinued due to his dissatisfaction with the counseling services. The Board has ordered a new evaluation by a vocational rehabilitation counselor to determine if he is now eligible for VR&E and suitable for the proposed program.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including myasthenia gravis, heart condition, peripheral neuropathy, knee conditions, sleep apnea, lymphedema, skin cancer, blisters, and rashes. The evidence did not establish herbicide exposure or show the conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as a right ankle and right foot disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Board finds that further development is necessary before the merits of the claim can be addressed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a lower back injury and TBI have been dismissed. The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes has been granted, as the condition is presumptively associated with his herbicide exposure during active duty in Vietnam.,Service connection has also been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity, all secondary to service-connected diabetes.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for various conditions and ratings, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities, as there is no current diagnosis of this condition and it is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left upper extremity neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected follicular center cell lymphoma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for iatrogenic left ulnar neuropathy was denied by the Board, as his symptoms are primarily manifested by pain and sensory disturbance, which align with moderate incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate previous examinations. A new examination is needed with a retrospective opinion on the severity of his service-connected back disability and peripheral neuropathy, including during flare-ups.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus required only restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent, not meeting the criteria for a higher 20 percent rating. For his peripheral neuropathies, the Board determined that they were primarily manifested by decreased vibration sensation, some decreased light touch sensation, and subjective complaints of tingling in the feet, which is more consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis rather than moderately severe or complete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations due to inconsistencies in his current symptomatology and need for clarification on certain issues. The Veteran must be provided with examinations which consider the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and cataracts.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right lower extremity neurologic and/or orthopedic condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities has been granted. The effective date is not specified.,The Veteran was presumed exposed to herbicides during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD with sciatic neuropathy was granted a single 60 percent initial rating prior to February 27, 2018. From that date onwards, separate 40 percent ratings were granted for right and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, left foot peripheral neuropathy, and right foot peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination opinions. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities may have contributed to his obesity, which could be a factor in causing or aggravating his diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and granted a rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as of August 1, 2011. The decision did not address left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's DM and associated peripheral neuropathy have been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates of October 31, 2012 have been granted for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates than July 12, 2016 were denied for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for lung disability (asthma), peripheral neuropathy of right and left upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder and insomnia) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange is presumed.