Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and upper forearm neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, granted under the PACT Act, is now considered valid.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for cardiovascular disease. The claim remains pending as it was previously denied in February 2016.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, right lower extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran during his July 2022 hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for dementia and remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities due to herbicide exposure. The decision on peripheral neuropathy is pending further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus due to his withdrawal of these claims in a November 2019 letter.

Effective September 26, 2013, the Veteran was granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and its related disabilities including diabetic retinopathy, right below the knee amputation status post right foot transmetatarsal amputation (Lisfranc amputation), peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, and a scar from the amputation. Special monthly compensation was also awarded based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity exertional compartment syndrome peripheral neuropathy is granted a 20 percent rating from March 8, 2017.,A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders were denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) was previously denied, but the appeal is granted as her symptoms are related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder condition has been reopened, but the Board finds no evidence of a current disability and thus denies this claim.,Service connection was denied for right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right shoulder, right hip, and left hip conditions due to lack of current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment from September 25, 2019, to December 22, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU for this period based on the combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's right upper extremity neuropathy, including symptoms of pain and paresthesias, has been rated at 10 percent since December 8, 2016. The Board found that the condition did not more closely approximate moderate or severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve during this period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU prior to December 6, 2022 due to insufficient clarification in the VA examiner's opinion regarding aggravation. The Veteran is also required to complete an application for TDIU and obtain his Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's right upper extremity disability, including his use of crutches for a service-connected left knee disability, is related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied multiple times, and no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen any of the claims. The Board also determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU as he has no service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since January 12, 2021.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for asbestosis, service connection for COPD, and TDIU on an extraschedular basis from December 9, 2014 to January 12, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to medication prescribed for his service-connected migraines and tinnitus, while the other conditions are not shown in service or for many years thereafter and are otherwise unrelated to his active-duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and migraine headaches, finding that these conditions are not related to service.

The appeal for service connection for right median sensorimotor neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, left and right shin splints, cataracts, deviated septum, depression, a right elbow disorder, and a heart disorder has been dismissed.,The claim for service connection for hypertension (secondary to PTSD) has been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The appeal is granted in part.,The claim for service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) has been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The appeal is granted in part.,The claims for service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The appeals are granted in part.