Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and retinopathy are all granted as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's eye disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened, and a TDIU is granted. The Board finds that new evidence supports reopening the claim. Left ear hearing loss and foacal mononeuropathy with winged scapula are remanded due to worsening symptoms not addressed in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for neuropathy and a disability resulting in discoloration of the hands. The reasons are that VA treatment records from January 2007 to the present, as well as any records from the Pueblo VA clinic located in Colorado in 1995, need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity sciatic and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy due to unclear attribution of symptoms. The TDIU claim prior to July 13, 2015, is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the rating decisions.

The Veteran's need for a higher level of aid and attendance, necessitating hospitalization or other institutional care, is granted from April 8, 2021.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a right ankle surgery due to the lack of evidence showing negligence or fault on VA's part, and because the peripheral neuropathy was not an unforeseeable event.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The Board finds the evidence to be in approximate balance and grants service connection for COPD. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from December 3, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right hands, currently rated at 20 percent each. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's representative argues that these conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to contaminated water on board USS America, as there is conflicting evidence regarding the timing of the leak repair.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that additional development is required due to incomplete examinations and treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as it was not properly raised in his initial notice of disagreement and no valid NOD or appeal was filed.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand instructions and additional development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's terminal lung cancer and other service-connected conditions are granted, with a total disability rating for lung cancer. Service connection is granted for thyroidectomy scar, hypertension, and right lung transplant with scar. However, service connection is denied for balance issues, left eyelid cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, glaucoma, and bilateral cataracts.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and remanded issues related to reductions in ratings for right ankle DJD, peripheral neuropathy of left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of right upper extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any pending issues.