Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection due to the appellant's request to withdraw them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, right and left foot peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, tinnitus, bowel disturbance, and cognitive impairment, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left shoulder disabilities, elbow/arm disability, wrist disabilities, knee disabilities with shin splints, low back disability, neuropathy of the lower extremities, cold weather injury residuals, sleep apnea, TBI, and vertigo. The appeals are based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are presumed to be due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,PTSD is granted as it was caused by an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as he is capable of attending medical appointments outside his home, does not require nursing care, and has no significant impairments that necessitate regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. H.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and left lower extremity, finding no current diagnosis or evidence of such conditions during the claim period.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been granted. Additionally, the Veteran is now eligible for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning December 13, 2016.,However, the Veteran's prior request for TDIU prior to December 13, 2016 remains under review and will be remanded.

The Board has dismissed both the Veteran's claims for an increased disability evaluation and a prior effective date for left ulnar neuropathy as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the conditions and service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 31, 2018, for the grants of service connection for migraine headaches, other trauma and stressor related disorder, and bilateral lower extremity exertional compartment syndrome with sural nerve neuropathy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his military personnel file and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for headaches (knot on head) has been reopened. The claims for unspecified depressive disorder, back disability, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right hip disability, and left hip disability are denied. The claim for service connection for headaches remains pending with the Board.

The appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed. The claims for lower back disability and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 6, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 3, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for further development including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for various disability ratings related to PTSD and peripheral neuropathy due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of higher evaluations for service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremities neuropathy due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's conditions include peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted with an effective date of September 20, 2013. The Veteran also receives Special Monthly Compensation at the housebound rate as of October 17, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for neuropathy, nose bleeding/throat discomfort, shortness of breath at night, bilateral hip pain/movement, and hypertension has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.,Service connection for hypertension is granted pursuant to the PACT Act.