Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an error in providing notice of his right to a hearing before the RO.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities must be remanded due to incomplete records and a need for additional VA examinations. The PACT Act requires a VA examination and medical opinion regarding participation in toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) for both lower extremity claims, considering total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments.

The Veteran's left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding effective dates for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, as these decisions were purely ministerial implementations of a prior Board decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for autonomic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction, as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The VA will obtain medical opinions to determine if these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for digital neuropathy of the bilateral toes.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is manifested by loss of erectile power without penile deformity and was granted a separate compensable rating.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity, femoral nerve was granted with an effective date of April 6, 2015.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy, left lower extremity, femoral nerve was also granted with the same effective date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal, including service connection claims and rating determinations.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, hypertensive diabetic retinopathy, and sleep disorder due to inadequate examination and outstanding treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of coronary artery disease, restless leg syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as they have been decided under the AMA system or granted by the AOJ.

The Veteran's chronic headache disorder and right upper extremity ulnar nerve neuropathy have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability has been denied for increased rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both lower and upper extremities, as well as an acquired eye disability (to include glaucoma), finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's RLE and LLE peripheral neuropathy have been granted initial 20% ratings. His DM has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient research on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and pesticides, and for further medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes type II prior to March 6, 2023. The claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded due to a lack of an examination in the June 2019 SOC.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been consistently rated at 20 percent since January 24, 2012. The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the period from January 24, 2012 to June 8, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spondylosis, radiculopathy of the right leg, neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran's conditions are presumed due to service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since June 5, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as the requirement for such is attributed to non-service-connected back pain. As a result, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.