Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further VA evaluation regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right leg numbness, which may be related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine DJD and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, finding no direct or secondary link to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to right wrist and elbow splints is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the splints wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include cardiac disability, bilateral hearing loss, neurological disabilities of both upper extremities, right knee disability, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lipoma of the left upper back area is denied as there is no evidence linking it to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and joint pain are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and various radiculopathy conditions. The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for further development.,An effective date of October 7, 2011, is granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, including peripheral neuropathy and limitation of motion, is rated at 10 percent since May 17, 2018.

The Veteran's hypertension, left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathies, and diabetes have been granted service connection. The Veteran has also received increased ratings for his upper extremities' peripheral neuropathies and a higher rating for his diabetes.

The Veteran's DM with DR, hypertension, and ED is not rated higher than the current 20 percent rating.,Nephropathy has been denied for ratings in excess of noncompensable prior to January 27, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.,PN in RUE, LUE, RLE, and LLE is not rated higher than the current 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, which is required to protect her from hazards or dangers incident to her daily environment. As a result, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is not related to his active service, and his coronary artery disease status post CABG surgery does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left and right upper extremities due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as there was insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus (DM), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the appeals.,A separate claim for depression was also raised but not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's back disability, neck disability, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection.,An effective date earlier than July 24, 2017 for the increased 50 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is granted a separate 10 percent rating effective March 1, 2018. The initial increased (20 percent) for the Veteran's service-connected left hand ulnar neuropathy is denied prior to September 27, 2021, and denied since that date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the left knee, urinary disability, and polyneuropathy claims. The Veteran's service records will be reviewed to determine if there are any outstanding private treatment records or VA treatment records from February 2018 to present. An examination by an appropriate clinician will be scheduled to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee strain with chondromalacia patella, enthesopathy and arthritis. The Veteran's urinary disability and polyneuropathy claims will also require additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle and upper extremity disorders due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records, and a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.