Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 12, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board found that the Veteran's unit was not located in or near the Korean DMZ, and thus did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and concluding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's pes planus and his current condition.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right knee disability, and right knee instability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board remand directives.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted service connection. Service connection for left rotator cuff tendonitis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and left lateral collateral ligament sprain are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 C.F.R. § 1114(s) was denied because the AOJ did not consider his diabetes mellitus and its associated complications as a single disability, despite having a combined rating of 100%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted.,The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric disability (depressive disorder), esophageal dysmotility, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. His diabetes mellitus, type II with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy of the left eye, peripheral neuropathy affecting multiple extremities, and diabetic chronic kidney disease are all granted or remanded as appropriate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, diabetic neuropathy of the left arm, diabetic neuropathy of the left leg, diabetic neuropathy of the right arm, diabetic neuropathy of the right leg, and hypertension as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism/thyroid was dismissed as the full benefit sought (service connection) had already been granted in a previous decision.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy was restored because the RO improperly severed it based on the inapplicability of presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has identified errors in obtaining medical records and a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's contentions of peripheral neuropathy. The case is remanded to obtain these records and provide an opinion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed neuropathy conditions, as no medical opinion addressing all evidence of record has been obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lower back disability are remanded due to conflicting medical evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is remanded due to a need for an EMG study.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for clarification of opinions related to herbicide exposure.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD beginning December 20, 2017 is dismissed.,A 70 percent evaluation is granted prior to December 20, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and another for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 30 percent, and his left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, and his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent.