Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and the peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, CAD, HTN, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PN of the upper and lower extremities, OSA, ventricular arrhythmia, and an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD. The appeals are now pending with the AOJ for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including lung cancer, colorectal cancer, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional development regarding his National Guard service and potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, and Peripheral Neuropathy on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's cause of death is also considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for neuropathy of the left upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence that VA care caused or contributed to his condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, including due to exposure to herbicides. Additional development is required as the VA examiner did not fully address key pieces of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for disabilities of the bilateral lower extremities, right shoulder, and bilateral hands are denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions were caused or aggravated by VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) for additional development. The claim for tinnitus remains granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran sustained additional disability as a result of the January 2004 surgery and if VA's care was at fault. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, are rated as they currently manifest. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, arthritis, low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, right hand, left hand, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment or care, and the service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The appeal for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 is remanded due to unclear causes of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus, which was first noted decades after separation from service. The TDIU issue is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left forearm condition and left ulnar neuropathy are granted, while the initial compensable rating for left elbow scar and bilateral hearing loss is denied. The appeal regarding service connection for residuals of lip/facial cancer, right hip condition, right lower extremity neuropathy, and effective date earlier than October 11, 2018 for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as the evidence does not show that his disability has warranted a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to an herbicide agent, as well as his claim for a higher rating for PTSD. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower leg pain, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, providing a new examination, and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as his condition did not require regulation of activities. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his ability to perform substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded four separate claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet due to incomplete information in previous VA examination opinions. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to inadequate opinions regarding their relationship to hypertension. The Veteran's representative requested withdrawal from representation.