Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) because VA failed to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Qasim and did not provide a statement of reasons or basis whether the Veteran's employment constituted a protected work environment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of recent medical evidence, and requests additional VA treatment notes and a clinical opinion regarding the impact of service-connected disabilities on obesity.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy have been granted initial ratings, with the lumbar strain rated at 20 percent since May 3, 2022. The left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy has a separate rating of 10 percent since September 24, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various types of peripheral neuropathy and a skin disorder have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right ulnar neuropathy and left ulnar neuropathy, finding that the conditions began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity nerve disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The decision finds a nexus between the Veteran's symptoms and his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review of the evidence, including a VA examination report submitted in October 2021. The issues regarding service connection are not yet resolved.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 30 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 10 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve) is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been essentially granted in full.,The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 10 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), prior to December 23, 2021, and from that date in excess of 20 percent is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Board granted service connection for the other conditions as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's bowel incontinence is currently rated as 60 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 100 percent evaluation for bowel incontinence, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available. For his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, the Veteran's claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was granted a 40% disability rating effective October 14, 2021. The initial ratings for RLE and LLE diabetic peripheral neuropathy were denied.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship with service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings due to inadequate reasons and bases provided in previous decisions. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right lower extremity neurological disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes is denied as there is no current diagnosis of diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is being remanded for a new examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is denied as there is no current disability.,The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity on a secondary basis and as due to herbicide agent exposure is denied.,The Veteran's claim for skin disorder (claimed as chloracne, manifested by rashes) on a secondary basis and as due to herbicide agent exposure is denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, dysentery, and malaria. Service connection was granted for jungle rot, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy.,Service connection for duodenal ulcers, skin cancer, and a prostate disability is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure.,His peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities and upper extremities are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,His diabetic retinopathy is also secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,His erectile dysfunction is also secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are not currently diagnosed, but if diagnosed, would be considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand. The issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, left and right lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities resulted in mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, which does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.