Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 1, 2019.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity neuropathy are rated at a 40 percent rating, but no higher, based on moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development and review of additional evidence, including VA and private treatment records. The issues on appeal include effective date determinations and service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for various ankle, knee, hip, migraine, and eye conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his active service.,The VA examiner provided medical opinions stating that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are more likely due to normal aging or unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate to address whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step. Therefore, another remand is required to obtain a supplemental opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for the conditions listed, with presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as a sleep disturbance. The appeal regarding irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's IBS because there is no direct link between his in-service herbicide exposure and the condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent effective July 26, 2019. The Board denied higher ratings for the condition and also denied increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in Guam. The VA is required to provide a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and PVD, as well as any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for diabetes. The Veteran's testimony during his August 2022 hearing is both new and relevant to the question of service connection for diabetes.

The motion to revise the October 2018 rating decision was granted, granting service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral sensory neuropathy of both lower extremities due to a history of diabetes. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and his military service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been withdrawn by her authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, kidney disorder, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The decision also dismissed his claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and DDD of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy (claimed as nerve disorder/neurological signs and symptoms), is presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity occurred during service, thus denying service connection.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the Appellant, and no final decision can be made on the merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, back condition, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA and/or private treatment records and further examination.

The Veteran's polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claims for a bilateral foot disability other than neuropathy and a bilateral ankle disability are remanded.