Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection claim for right lower extremity disability, to include peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic in-service disability or continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection was also denied for TDIU due to lack of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD and prostate cancer. The Board finds that the Veteran cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period from September 21, 2012 to December 4, 2012. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the combined impact of multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board has also identified several issues that require further examination and consideration, including service connection for hypertension.,The Veteran was granted service connection for amputation of the left little toe and left little toe amputation scar on August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's diabetes and diabetic nephropathy were not granted increased ratings, and his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests that additional evidence be obtained, including medical records related to a Federal tort claim. The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantial gainful employment prior to March 28, 2022. As of March 28, 2022, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, OSA, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a bilateral foot disability due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection was not granted on a direct basis as there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Veteran's throat condition is currently diagnosed as esophageal polyps, which were not present at the time of his previous VA examinations. The Board finds a need for additional medical opinion to determine if this condition is related to service.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 100 percent (coronary artery disease) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent (right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, diabetes mellitus). However, the Veteran is not considered housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The claim of service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to bilateral flatfoot with degenerative arthritis is granted. The issue of joint pain (undiagnosed illness) needs further evaluation, including consideration of upper extremity disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and service.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease. Service connection is also granted for chronic kidney disease, right eye diabetic retinopathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected diabetes. Service connection is granted for congestive heart failure as secondary to coronary artery disease. The case is remanded for additional opinions on toxic optic neuropathy with altitudinal visual field defect and a heart disorder other than coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a brain tumor and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to environmental exposures during service. The claims are being reviewed on a de novo basis as the AOJ implicitly found new and relevant evidence had been received.

The Veteran's skin disorder/ringworm of the lower extremities and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are granted as service connected. The right upper and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the currently assigned 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was denied as the earliest discernible communication that constitutes a TDIU claim did not arise until November 6, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, as there is a lack of sufficient rationale in the previous opinion regarding whether the condition is related to the conceded herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin disabilities of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and bilateral hearing loss disability are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence to support a connection between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for DM2 and CAD are granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Thailand, which is sufficient to grant service connection for his peripheral neuropathy conditions and kidney disorder as secondary to his now-service-connected DM2.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, diabetes, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.