Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar and cervical strains.,An increased rating of 50 percent for migraines as of January 16, 2015, is granted. The Veteran medically retired due to severe economic inadaptability caused by his migraines.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and GERD are all granted. The decision is based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected Parkinson's disease.,There is no evidence of a cardiovascular disorder in the record, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension are granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty service. The effective date is October 1, 2026.

The Board has remanded the cases for further clarification on whether the Veteran's diabetes and related neuropathy are related to service, including his reported symptoms during service. Additionally, a new examination is needed to determine if range of motion testing was conducted with and without weight-bearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding bladder cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a skin disorder. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for dementia, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and granted service connection for coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's period of service in Thailand.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals before the Board, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a gallbladder condition, a respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis), frostbite residuals of the lower and upper extremities, left hand disability, right hand disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a gallbladder condition, a respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis), frostbite residuals of the lower and upper extremities, left hand disability, right hand disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left foot condition, including neuropathy, is related to his active-duty service and granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease affecting his lower extremities, have resulted in a loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has determined that the Veteran is eligible for specially adapted housing due to these conditions but not for special home adaptation or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, respiratory disability, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to presumed exposure to herbicidal agents. The Veteran was not provided with VA examinations for these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as left and right hand pain and numbness, all presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. The neurocognitive disorder is also granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the femoral nerves are granted at a 10 percent rating, effective August 18, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeals regarding entitlement to higher evaluations for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection. The Veteran's disabilities were found not to warrant such adjustments.,The Board also denied the appellant's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance prior to February 28, 2014, and an increased level of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's radiculopathy or neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is not service-connected.,The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are related to active service.