Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's peroneal compression neuropathy of the right lower extremity with right foot drop was granted a 30 percent disability rating prior to February 13, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a skin disorder all related to in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of his OSA.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of sufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve regurgitation and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and left leg. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service, including environmental or toxic exposure during her Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding presumed exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy, OSA, and peripheral artery disease secondary to diabetes mellitus type II has been remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,reasoning

The Veteran's initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities prior to March 26, 2019, are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For both upper extremities, the evidence shows mild paresthesias and/or dysesthesias and numbness. No paralysis or severe incomplete paralysis was shown.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to the failure to schedule a DRO hearing.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot pain with plantar fasciitis, hemorrhoids, right lower extremity inferior calcaneal nerve neuropathy, and left lower extremity inferior calcaneal nerve neuropathy. TDIU has been granted throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's in-service exposure to noise.,The Veteran's vascular dementia is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his presumed service in Vietnam.,The Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral foot disability (pes planus, arthritis, hammertoes) are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his service in Vietnam.,,,

The Board denied higher ratings for sciatic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent due to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathies of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure. The RO needs to verify if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Panama from January 1959 through April 1960.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to issues with the hearing transcript, including audio malfunctions. The representative requested specific examiner CVs but did not specify which ones.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous directives, particularly regarding the etiology of his neuropathy.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral restless leg syndrome and/or peripheral polyneuropathy. The decision on the former issue is final, while the latter requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and its associated upper extremity neuropathies due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, but the issues of hypertension and kidney disability are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The neurological disabilities remain in dispute.