Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for right and left upper extremity neuropathy, as well as a skin disorder (likely chloracne), are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition (coronary artery disease), and diabetic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn all her appeals, including the ones related to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, shin splints, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's prostate disorder is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis and the Board finds that his lay assertions are not competent to establish a connection.,There is no confirmed diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and the Veteran's lay assertions regarding Agent Orange exposure or secondary to diabetes mellitus are not considered competent medical opinions. The Board finds in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, with the Board finding that there is no doubt to be resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between active service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected back condition, neuropathy, and hearing loss prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment prior to October 7, 2019. The Board granted TDIU based on these conditions.

Your petition to reopen the claim of service connection for chronic pain, bilateral elbows has been granted.,The petition to reopen your claims for service connection for chronic pain, bilateral knees and chronic pain, bilateral hips have been granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerves of both lower extremities were granted at 20% prior to December 2, 2019, and increased to 30% thereafter. The Board also found that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and granted SMC based on this.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding the examination and opinion provided. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination. The Board has also decided to remand the claims of service connection for MSA, Parkinsonism with memory loss secondary to MSA, abducens nerve palsy secondary to MSA, autonomic disorder secondary to MSA, axonal neuropathy secondary to MSA, cognitive brain disorder secondary to MSA, cervical spine disability secondary to MSA, coordination/balance disorder secondary to MSA, dysphagic and choking secondary to MSA, fatty liver/pyelonephritis secondary to MSA, fracture rib disability secondary to coordination/balance disorder due to MSA, frontoparietal volume loss secondary to MSA, and hypertension (HTN) secondary to MSA. The claims are being remanded for further evidentiary development.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy of all radicular groups is granted a 70 percent rating, effective April 29, 2019. The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy of all radicular groups is granted a 60 percent rating, effective April 29, 2019. The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the internal tibial nerve and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the internal tibial nerve are each granted a 30 percent rating, effective April 29, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU was restored effective August 1, 2020. The VA also granted reinstatement of basic eligibility for education benefits under DEA due to the restoration of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and identifying specific in-service exposure.

The Board has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC benefits to be legally inadequate and remands the case for a new medical determination regarding personal care services, supervision or protection needs, and regular or extensive instruction or supervision.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance are being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a diagnosed BUE condition, to include peripheral and idiopathic neuropathy, that may be related to his period of service, including as due to herbicide exposure. However, further examination is needed to determine if this relationship exists.

The Board denied service connection for soft tissue sarcoma, dengue fever, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for memory loss, heart condition, TBI residuals, and various nerve conditions have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for upper extremity nerves and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lower extremity neuropathy as it is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as his left and right lower extremities, were denied increased ratings due to symptoms not warranting higher evaluations.