Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder, effective July 15, 2015. He also received TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.,Effective August 20, 2015, the Veteran will be in receipt of TDIU on account of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder alone.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 25, 2018 to April 17, 2019. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not show moderate or severe incomplete paralysis involving sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 70 percent from January 14, 2020. The Board has remanded the case for further consideration.,Prior to January 14, 2020, the Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his right shoulder disability under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his reports of in-service symptoms and treatment.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been denied.

Service connection for DM and IHD is granted based on the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. Service connection for CKD, peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are also granted as secondary to service-connected DM.,The nephrolithiasis claim remains pending and will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for Meniere's Syndrome, but denied effective dates prior to January 1, 2008 for the grants of service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity have all been reopened and are granted.

The Veteran's ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were increased to 20 percent each, effective February 2, 2023. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to an initial rating of 20 percent for both his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's duties placed him on or near the base perimeter at Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. The COPD appeal was dismissed as withdrawn. Service connection is also granted for other conditions related to these two disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral cataracts has been withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU effective from December 10, 2014 to July 18, 2022.,Effective from July 18, 2022, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined disability rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy was found to be mild in severity prior to October 21, 2020. The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his PTSD is productive of a great degree of disability but does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to obtain additional opinions regarding the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy, including whether it is related to service-connected conditions or due to VA treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from November 30, 2009, through November 14, 2014. He also has diabetes which is rated at over 60 percent. Therefore, TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to a lack of a VA examination addressing whether the Veteran's diagnosed neuropathy is causally or etiologically related to his military service, and whether it was caused by or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for colorectal cancer, lung cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as their secondary relationships. The appellant is seeking service connection based on herbicide exposure at Fort Drum, NY.