Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, CAD, and hypertension, all found to be aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in nerve findings and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of 100 percent prior to October 23, 2017. The Board found that his symptoms were more closely aligned with a 70 percent disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran met the schedular requirements as he had multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's heart disability, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, kidney dysfunction (secondary to hypertension), residuals of strokes, and dementia are all granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted. The Veteran also has peripheral neuropathy of sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and femoral nerve in both lower extremities, which are separately service-connected.

The Board has ordered remand to determine the level of functional impairment caused by each service-connected disability, including those related to diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as total is being considered.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of right foot and left foot peripheral neuropathy due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates or higher initial ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right lower extremity neurological disability, finding that it did not have its clinical onset in service or within one year of service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; hepatitis C; dizziness; hypersensitivity to light and noise; diarrhea; fainting disability; sinus disability; bronchitis; GERD; headache disability; hypertension; chronic fatigue syndrome; sleep apnea; erectile dysfunction; chest pain disability; and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for the following: obtaining VA treatment records, private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and completing a TDIU application form; providing adequate VA examinations for sinus, respiratory, GERD, headache, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and chest pain disabilities; and providing an examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as a bilateral kidney disease. The Veteran's claim for a left hip disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating possible herbicide exposure during service in Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Veteran's reported exposures will be verified by the U.S. Department of Army.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,Separate 10 percent ratings for the bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve were granted in March 2016, effective November 30, 2015.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected and the Board finds no evidence to support a finding that any of his conditions were caused by VA treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches and bilateral eye condition, are denied as there is no objective evidence of current disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for service connection of left lower extremity and right lower extremity neuropathy. The Board dismissed the claims as there are no remaining questions of fact or law.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified idiopathic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to diabetes mellitus, neuropathy affecting the lower extremities and sciatic nerve were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and colon cancer are all found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as service connected. Tinnitus was previously granted but is now dismissed due to a full grant of benefits.