Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board dismissed all issues related to initial evaluations, effective dates, and service connection for various conditions. The TDIU claim was remanded due to incomplete information.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and degenerative joint disease with lumbar disc herniation, finding that no increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the claims.,The Veteran's claim for a temporary total convalescent rating following left knee replacement was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for back disability, LLE peripheral neuropathy, and RLE peripheral neuropathy due to a slip and fall at a VA facility in October 2004. The Board found that there was no additional disability or death resulting from the incident, and that any preexisting conditions were not aggravated by the incident.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left lower extremity sensory motor axonal neuropathy, as secondary to service-connected pes planus, due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding secondary aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, skin disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and leg stents are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes and related conditions due to uncertainty about his exposure to Agent Orange or other potential service-related factors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings of peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cold injury residuals to multiple body parts, including the feet, hands, ears, and face. Service connection was also granted for neuropathy of the legs. However, the claim for peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date before January 16, 2015 for the award of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because the earliest nonfinal claim was her formal claim on January 16, 2015.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus, right knee arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and shoulder dislocation. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined increased rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because he did not provide sufficient information about his employment history, and thus failed to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for verification of in-service herbicide exposure and further development is needed. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied, as does service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his left hand disability, were denied higher initial ratings. The Veteran was granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus.,The Veteran's left ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the Veteran's hearing testimony and VA treatment records.