Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claims, including a schedular TDIU from August 10, 2022 and an extraschedular TDIU prior to that date. The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU consideration from August 10, 2022 but not prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for higher SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show he was bedridden or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has restored the Veteran's prior 20% ratings for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, effective January 6, 2020.

The Veteran's claimed cervical spine disability, cervicogenic headaches, and neuropathy of the lower extremities are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service or a pre-existing condition aggravated by service. The Board is bound by the RO's favorable finding that the Veteran served as a dental specialist with a moderate probability of acoustic trauma.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his conditions and service, as well as potential additional disabilities caused by VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issues are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and its related peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, including whether it was caused by his duties as a necropsy technician, mortician, or embalmer in Guam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The appeals are not about a rating decision, but rather about whether the Veteran should be granted new and material evidence to reopen their previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating current TBI, headaches, chest pain, right shoulder condition, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities. The issues will be addressed with additional VA examinations.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for disability residual to a VA referral for left arm surgery, finding that the Veteran does not have additional disability due to the surgery.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right greater auricular neuropathy and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating than 50 percent.

The appeal for service connection for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD with TBI prior to June 10, 2019, is remanded.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance beginning February 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), right and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PN), bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve PN, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic, tibial, and popliteal nerves PN have been denied. The effective dates for these claims are not granted.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has also been denied.

The Board has restored service connection for various peripheral neuropathy and vascular conditions of the upper and lower extremities, finding that the original decisions were clearly erroneous.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete examination reports and inaccurately reported service records.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 25, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to January 29, 2021 for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance/housebound criteria are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.