Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy. The acquired psychiatric disorder is presumed to be related to the Veteran's in-service experiences and his other service-connected disabilities. Right and left upper extremity neuropathies are found to be secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, headache disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The remand is due to incomplete evidence from private medical centers and SSA records, as well as an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy, as the evidence does not show it was diagnosed during active service or within a year of separation from active service. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was due to his presumed herbicide agent exposure.,The Board also denied increased ratings for left knee subluxation and pain, as there is no objective medical evidence showing continuous foot symptomatology or early-onset peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. However, the PTSD rating issue needs to be remanded as it was not addressed in the previous decision and a new SSOC must be issued.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve involvement) are rated at 40 percent each, effective prior to September 20, 2016. Beginning September 20, 2016, the ratings for sciatic nerve involvement remain at 40 percent. The Veteran's femoral nerve involvement is not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as a higher rating for PTSD. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran was previously granted TDIU effective September 24, 2012, and entitlement to service connection for an eye condition.

The Board has granted service connection for nerve damage of the bilateral legs, finding that it is secondary to a service-connected disability (stress fractures). The Veteran's polyneuropathy is attributed to her stress fractures.

Service connection is granted for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's sciatic and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy claims have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by the VA examiners. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are now pending again.

The Veteran's increased rating for migraine headaches is granted, with a disability rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for right weak foot and left weak foot are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability based on individual unemployability prior to June 27, 2018 is remanded due to changes in his service-connected conditions and the need for additional evidence regarding his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, myositis (myopathy), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate prior VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received, but service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is still denied.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. The claims of service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) is remanded. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. The claims of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy is remanded. The claims of service connection for joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint and muscle pain is remanded. The claims of service connection for cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disorder is remanded. The claims of service connection for fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue and sleep disturbances is remanded. The claims of service connection for multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages is remanded. The claims of service connection for neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neuropsychological disorder is remanded. The claims of service connection for bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts is remanded. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his in-service symptoms and current disabilities.