Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The TDIU claim from September 16, 2012, is also remanded as the AOJ did not provide reasons and bases for its decision.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, MDD, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded due to exposure in Vietnam and Guam.,Service connection has been established for PTSD, MDD, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of left lower extremity, right lower extremity, upper right extremity, and upper left extremity neuropathy have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure to provide a VA examination and perform necessary development, including toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that his conditions are related to his active duty service at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CLL, diabetes mellitus, and related conditions were denied in a final September 2008 decision. The appellant is seeking earlier effective dates for these grants of service connection on the basis of substitution.,The claim for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act, which added hypertension to the list of diseases presumptively associated with herbicide agent exposure. The effective date for this grant is August 10, 2022.

Service connection is granted for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, and Congestive Heart Failure due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. Service connection is denied for Peripheral Neuropathy of the Bilateral Lower Extremities and Diabetic Kidney Disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, type II diabetes mellitus, and neurological impairments of both upper extremities has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the left lower extremity condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to assist the Veteran with his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing notice regarding military sexual trauma. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's spine and extremity disabilities are being remanded for additional medical opinions to address the severity of his conditions, particularly during flare-ups or with repeated use.,The Veteran's skin disability is also being remanded due to unclear onset and systemic therapy status.

The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent effective August 12, 2018.,The Veteran's hypertension is not rated in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease was denied. The case was remanded multiple times, but the Veteran was granted TDIU effective from August 10, 2022, and referred for extraschedular consideration prior to that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding ratings for diabetic neuropathy and hearing loss due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions are caused by herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type I, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction due to a failure of the AOJ to obtain adequate medical opinions as to the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's CIDP is service-connected, and his bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy are found to be secondary to this condition.,Effective October 30, 2014, the Veteran was granted a disability rating of 20% for left upper extremity CIDP.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right lower extremity neuropathy, left leg disability, and left shoulder disability have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions or a causal relationship to service.