Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected lymphoma was granted a 100% disability rating from November 3, 2011. Separate ratings of 10% were granted for peripheral neuropathy affecting the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted. The rating issues related to his knees and lower extremities, as well as his left eye disabilities, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right elbow and radial nerve disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and reopened the claim for a sleep disability to include sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient evidence regarding direct service connection, with a focus on obtaining an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for thyroid cancer has been granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence was received after a final decision, allowing the reopening of this claim.,Service connection is being remanded for variously diagnosed heart disability (including pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid valve regurgitation), variously diagnosed skin disability (Chloracne), bilateral hearing loss disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal will be returned to the Board after completion of development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a variety of skin disabilities is being remanded due to lack of evidence related to exposure to herbicide agents. Further examination may be required to determine if any current skin disability is related to military service.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.,The claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on loss of use of a right foot is denied as there was no formal or informal communication prior to July 28, 2017.,The Veteran's rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy with right drop foot is granted at 40 percent.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the vocal cords, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus II and/or herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy being granted as due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection has also been granted for left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve was rated at 10 percent prior to April 11, 2017. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for additional disabilities related to chemotherapy treatment were denied as there was no evidence of causation by VA care, and the conditions are considered direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot osteoarthritis with calcaneal spur, a back disorder, and myelopathy and neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period from January 1, 2017 through January 10, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral ankles, and arthritis of his entire body. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, finding that it did not have its onset in service or within one year of service separation, is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.