Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bladder cancer and kidney removal, have rendered him unemployable since May 1, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board denied service connection for ear infections, lung disability (including shortness of breath), skin disability, gland infection, RLE peripheral neuropathy, and LLE peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence supporting in-service exposure to toxic substances. The Veteran's currently diagnosed conditions are not considered related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for right foot and left foot peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was reopened and granted. The appeal regarding severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, as well as the associated peripheral neuropathy claims were remanded due to conflicting medical evidence on whether the Veteran has diabetes.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of service connection are not addressed by this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need to seek out his private treatment records and VA Medical Center records.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ulnar peripheral neuropathy and right ulnar peripheral neuropathy, finding the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hand and elbow peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinion based on a lack of causal connection between herbicide agent exposure and delayed onset of peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations and TDIU. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling additional examinations, and reviewing all evidence added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes and peripheral neuropathy disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta due to VA's carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill in prescribing Atenolol.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2009, through April 5, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

Your claims for arthritis of the left and right hands, as well as your lower and upper back conditions have been granted. However, your knee and kidney condition claims are being remanded.,Your peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as your upper extremities, have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of fracture of left leg, claimed as left leg fracture is denied due to lack of current residuals.,The Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. The decision is based on the presumption of herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's ratings for his service-connected knee and polyneuropathy disabilities have been reduced, but the Board finds that these reductions were not proper due to a failure to consider all applicable regulations.,The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his service-connected knee and polyneuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthrosis have been manifested by flexion of 70 degrees or greater, and extension to 10 degrees or less. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent rating for each of her left and right knees due to osteoarthritis under DC 5261.,The criteria for entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability have not been met. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.