Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy from February 22, 2022. The reduction in rating was found to be improper due to lack of improvement.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and for higher ratings for peripheral artery disease, right and left lower extremities. The remand requires new medical opinions to address the etiology of the claimed conditions and whether functional decline was due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities, including back disability, pes planus, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left upper and lower extremity disabilities (including peripheral neuropathy), and lichen simplex chronicus. The Veteran's testimony and medical records indicate that these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected due to continuous symptoms since service. The peripheral nerve disability of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to the service-connected low back condition.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's neck, shoulder, hip, and sciatica disorders, specifically related to his testimony about wearing an incorrectly sized Kevlar vest during deployment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to comply with previous remands regarding verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after additional development is completed.

The Veteran's RUE PN was initially rated at 20 percent from November 10, 2005, through April 22, 2021, and is now granted a 40 percent rating effective April 22, 2021.,The Veteran's LUE PN was initially rated at 20 percent from November 10, 2005, through April 22, 2021, and is now granted a 30 percent rating effective April 22, 2021.,The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy was initially rated at 20 percent from November 10, 2005, through December 28, 2017, and is now granted a 40 percent rating effective December 28, 2017.,The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy was initially rated at 20 percent from November 10, 2005, through December 28, 2017, and is now granted a 40 percent rating effective December 28, 2017.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand is rated at 10 percent, but no higher prior to January 6, 2022. A rating in excess of 10 percent for the entire course of the appeal is not warranted. The Veteran also has a scar associated with his Dupuytren's contracture which is rated as 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted because the medical evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, and he is currently receiving TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical spine arthritis is granted at 30 percent, effective prior to April 14, 2021.,A higher rating of more than 30 percent for cervical spine arthritis from April 14, 2021, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's IBS is granted as a presumptive service connection due to a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The RO will need to provide an examination and obtain an opinion regarding the bilateral pes planus, diabetes mellitus, eye disability, and right ankle condition.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus, diabetes mellitus, any eye disability, and right ankle condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to June 22, 2016, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his peripheral neuropathy, right hand condition, left hand condition, right foot condition, and left foot condition are denied. The case is remanded for a hearing loss addendum.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorder, low back disorder, sleep disorder, peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the Veteran's claim for service connection to be reopened. The claims for right elbow disability, left elbow disability, headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right arm, ankle, and foot disabilities. The issues are related to service-connected conditions.