Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an opinion on whether the Veteran's leukoderma (discoloration of hands) is related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's left gastrocnemius muscle injury resulted in a severe disability, warranting a 30% rating.,Service connection is remanded for bilateral upper and lower extremity nerve conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals as the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity neuropathy have been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as the Board lacks jurisdiction to consider his claims for earlier effective dates and service connection due to a request under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease, retinopathy of the left eye as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The appeal regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal of service connection for a prostate disability and has remanded several other issues related to various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, upper extremity, lower extremity neuropathies, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with the RO.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities as secondary to the service-connected degenerative arthritis in the lumbar spine, finding that the current condition was not caused or worsened by the service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathies as directly related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is granted a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent, effective October 20, 2013. The left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy remains at 20 percent. Right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathies are each granted a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right fourth finger scar, and erectile dysfunction were denied as they are not supported by evidence of a claim prior to August 22, 2021.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, right fourth finger scar, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left and right lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease, have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance.,VA has not provided a VA examination or medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions result in loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The case is now REMANDED for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's neuropathy and military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The Veteran needs further examination and an opinion on this matter.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 4, 2005. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU due to the combination of his service-connected disabilities from September 23, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted. The cause of the Veteran's death, which included DM II as a contributing factor, is also granted.,Further, the Board has remanded cases regarding secondary service connection for right eye condition, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric condition to provide medical opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for right leg burn scar. Service connection is granted for respiratory disorder, sinusitis, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, LLE peripheral neuropathy, multiple joint disability (arthritis), fatigue, and GERD based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, allowing for a higher level of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for right and left upper extremity neuropathy, as well as entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for a new one with an examiner who has not previously offered an opinion in this matter.