Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the bilateral upper extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for left leg scars based on limitation of motion of the left hip, and his service-connected disabilities are found to meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU for the period prior to October 22, 2010, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear etiology of the Veteran's right lower extremity disability and need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a foot condition and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions began during or were related to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The Board also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding peripheral neuropathy in the extremities and retinopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the Veteran's right and left upper extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to incomplete paralysis.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is presumed. Service connection was also granted on a secondary basis due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower bilateral extremities, finding that there is no current diagnosis of the condition during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to radiculopathy and arthritis rather than peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to February 5, 2020 and at 40 percent since that date.,Since June 22, 2012, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and neuropathy associated with his lumbar spine disability are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, as well as bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his nephropathy with neurogenic bladder and voiding dysfunction was denied. His claims for PN of the RUE, LUE, RLE, and LLE were granted at 20 percent each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee disability, as well as his TDIU claim due to inextricability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a stomach condition, asthma, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions as they are not related to his active duty service or any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the disability is primarily manifested by pain, antalgic gait, numbness, trophic changes, and anesthesia, which aligns with moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to his ability to primarily care for himself, despite some day-to-day difficulties.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, back disability, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed as they were resolved by a prior rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension due to herbicide exposure has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.