Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain all relevant private treatment records, including those from VistA Imaging, and provide new VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right hand, and right lower extremity due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant prior to a final decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of cooperation from the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer residuals, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disorder, and sleep apnea, were not found to be service-connected. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, a compensable rating for his BHL, and an earlier effective date for his CAD. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete fulfillment of the August 2018 remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from June 13, 2010. The reduction in rating for bilateral cataracts was remanded due to inadequate SOC addressing its propriety. The compensable rating for bilateral cataracts is also remanded as the criteria were revised effective May 2018.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided were inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to potential exposure to herbicide agents while aboard the USS Mount Hood. The AOJ is required to confirm whether the Veteran served in Vietnam or within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his overseas service.

The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, as well as his TDIU claim, have been denied. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on their current manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service or any in-service exposure. The decision also noted that the Veteran had not provided a credible explanation for why he did not seek treatment earlier.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. His eye condition and hypertension are denied as not related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence of moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 10% prior to December 2, 2020 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity was rated at 10% prior to December 2, 2020 and denied a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a left leg disability other than peripheral neuropathy and for a respiratory disability, finding that the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected CAD prior to July 19, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.