Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities have been denied. Prior to August 28, 2020, his disabilities were rated as 10 percent disabling; thereafter, they are rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has previously denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 4, 2019. The case is being remanded due to incomplete opinions regarding the functional impact of PTSD and peripheral neuropathy on the Veteran's ability to work.

The Veteran's service connection for neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities was granted with an effective date of March 3, 2016. The Board is not able to grant earlier effective dates as there is no evidence showing entitlement arose prior to this date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from August 31, 2011. He also received a TDIU and SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active duty service or service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as regulation of activities is not required to manage DM. For TDIU prior to February 12, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed insufficient to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that the Veteran missed scheduled examinations for his claimed conditions and has ordered them to be rescheduled. The claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, spine, hips, knees, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his peripheral neuropathy bilaterally of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, as well as requests for private medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on any new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy. The claims file must be updated with all relevant VA treatment records, including those from Montgomery VA Medical Center, and an addendum opinion must be obtained from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during active duty.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right lower extremity, left upper extremity, and right upper extremity was denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of right perforated tympanic membrane, bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathies are all denied as there is no evidence to support the presence of these conditions in service or a direct relationship to service.,ED was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting its connection to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination and the need for a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's eye conditions, including whether they are related to his service-connected diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral upper and lower neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease due to additional development being required. The Veteran must provide more information about specific documents he believes exist in order for VA to attempt to obtain them.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as coronary artery disease, have been denied. Service connection for basal cell carcinoma has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for avascular necrosis of the right and left shoulders, as well as median neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, have been denied by the Board. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 19, 2011, or in excess of 30 percent from December 19, 2011, for avascular necrosis, and in excess of 10 percent prior to August 20, 2020, or in excess of 30 percent from August 20, 2020, for median neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. Separate ratings of 10 percent were granted for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy from December 28, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction due to exposure to herbicide agents during reserve duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted. The claim for glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded.