Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right elbow pain and numbness, as well as his right arm scarring, are not service-connected due to lack of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension are granted. The Board finds a remand is necessary to determine the cause or aggravation of his bilateral lower extremity disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of the propriety of reduction in ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, effective July 1, 2020.

Your appeal for service connection for bilateral median neuropathy (pronator teres / carpal tunnel syndrome) has been dismissed because you were granted service connection for the condition in a previous decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to errors in the initial decision-making process, including a failure to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing before the RO.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for Parkinson's disease from September 11, 2002, to April 15, 2011. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to fully evaluate the severity of the residuals and needs additional information.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective October 4, 2006. He seeks a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or within one year after separation, and no established link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected right clavicle fracture residuals, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease and/or due to herbicide exposure. The remand is required because a previous VA medical opinion did not use the correct standard of aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address direct and secondary service connection theories, as well as development of potential herbicide exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The Veteran is granted a 50% evaluation for migraine headaches prior to October 21, 2009.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated neurological disabilities are remanded for additional evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and otalgia, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's in-service treatment records did not show diagnoses, complaints, or symptoms of vertigo or otalgia.,The Board also denied service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy (sciatic nerve), concluding that there is no evidence linking this condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examinations and incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C medications aggravated his Leber hereditary optic neuropathy.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his seizure disability claim was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The PTSD claim, however, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on a diagnosis provided by a VA psychologist.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied, but he has a current diagnosis of tinnitus that is related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II from January 10, 2012 was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination and lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran may establish service connection on a direct basis, despite not being listed as a presumptively associated disease.