Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities is rated at 40 percent, while his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for peripheral sensory neuropathy of the upper extremities and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been denied. The Veteran is also remanded for further consideration on his service connection claims.,His TDIU claim was also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia. The conditions are presumed to have been incurred during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic neuropathy and diabetes are granted, with a rating of 20 percent for diabetes. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his alleged wartime experiences in North Korea and Vietnam. The AOJ is instructed to take appropriate steps to verify these events.

The Board has granted service connection for colon cancer and secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, all related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection is established for colon cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, and secondary service connection is established for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection on a secondary basis have been remanded due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions and new evidence of increased symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and left and right lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to type 2 diabetes mellitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied on the basis of secondary service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's vision disability, specifically bilateral cataracts, is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities (sciatic nerves) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, heart disorder, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and right leg neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 7, 2017. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on this basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a low back condition and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to insufficient evidence in the December 2019 VA examination report. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bladder disability due to withdrawal. The claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory condition, and GERD are all REMANDED due to new evidence received.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and a heart disorder, including coronary artery disease (CAD), as these conditions are not found to be related to his active military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) since the Veteran's symptoms are manifested as moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his education and professional experience are sufficient for him to obtain and maintain substantial employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides while in-service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to unclear etiology and lack of contemporaneous medical evidence. The Veteran is advised to provide a statement regarding the onset of his symptoms, and a VA examiner will be asked to provide opinions on whether the conditions are related to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted as service-connected due to aggravation by his service-connected hypertension, coronary artery disease, and residuals of a stroke.,Special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's ALS was granted service connection and a 100% disability rating effective November 7, 2008. The earlier effective date of May 4, 2007 for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) is also granted.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was granted a 20% rating effective November 7, 2008.