Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for special monthly compensation and financial assistance in the purchase of a vehicle due to incomplete information from the previous VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is being evaluated further.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection due to his June 2018 VA Form 9 not being timely filed, as clear evidence has not been presented to rebut the presumption of regularity in the mailing of the July 2017 Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for a hearing loss rating and service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU. The claims for increased evaluations of peripheral neuropathy and SMC based on aid and attendance are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the evidence of record.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 27, 2016 for the grant of service connection for Parkinson's disease, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and clarification of opinions regarding service connection for residuals of a head injury, headaches, brain thrombosis, left upper extremity disorder with numbness, palsy and spasms, and left lower extremity disorder with peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and TDIU have been withdrawn by the Veteran, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development, including failing to schedule and notify him of examinations. The issues are now pending again for further development.

The Veteran's left cubital tunnel syndrome is granted as service connected. The extension of the temporary total disability rating for left knee degenerative joint disease under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 until January 31, 2007, is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as persistent delusions or hallucinations, memory loss, or disorientation to time and place.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is at least as likely as not related to his active duty and presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate examinations, missing medical records, and need for additional opinions regarding peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremities due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities precluding him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's sleep disorder is denied as it is already covered under his PTSD disability ratings.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for various conditions and TDIU, as well as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left shoulder surgery due to a withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, as they may be related to herbicide agent exposure. The RO is instructed to consider whether the Veteran's conditions qualify as presumptive disabilities under the PACT Act.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including chronic headaches, a lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder (claimed as neuropathy), left knee disability, dizziness/vertigo, sleep disability (to include sleep apnea), and diabetes mellitus. The Board has remanded these issues to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the nature and likely etiology of each condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether his prediabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, or pre-diabetic neuropathy is related to his military service, including conceded herbicide agent exposure.