Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for various conditions related to his service-connected nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence warranting a higher rating prior to April 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to his failure to report for an earlier scheduled examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents, as the evidence is inconclusive regarding whether the Veteran's claimed disability manifested within a year of discharge.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including GI disorder, DM, heart disorder, back disorder, kidney disorder, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, RLE neuropathy, and LLE neuropathy. The Veteran's symptoms were not found to be related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's fatty liver disease, GERD, respiratory disorder (COPD and pulmonary nodules), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are not service-connected.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU prior to July 11, 2015, is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic neuropathies are rated at 20 percent or less, and the Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus have been reopened. The appeal regarding TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for service connection are remanded due to new and material evidence having been submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability and skin disorder due to insufficient examination reports and lack of medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral sciatic nerves were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction is rated at 60 percent. Separate compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction are not warranted. Increased ratings for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, right leg below the knee amputation (BKA), and peripheral neuropathy of both sciatic nerves are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues with secondary service connection and exposure, as well as incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's representative argued for secondary service connection related to cobalamin deficiency, dementia, depression, schizophrenia, and bladder cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various peripheral neuropathy disorders and kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to his diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for prostate condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and neuropathy of the lower extremities due to lack of evidence supporting exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on hospitalizations or complications.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral upper/lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been granted, with effective dates prior to August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's skin condition, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and diabetic nephropathy are all denied.,The Veteran is not granted any increased ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his claimed disabilities and their relationship to active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities due to incomplete information and need for further examination.