Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective August 1, 2008. The decision found that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, but granted it for the right and left lower extremities. The decision is based on the Veteran's herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy, finding that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to scheduling issues and a hospitalization during the last scheduled VA examination. The Veteran is required to have VA examinations rescheduled.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, fibromyalgia, a cardiovascular condition, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded. The Board finds that additional development is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection on an accrued basis due to in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's chronic kidney disease has also been granted service connection on an accrued basis as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for peripheral neuropathy contended to be due to a March 2014 aneurysm repair at a VA medical facility prior to April 12, 2021.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death. The appeal for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to additional evidence added after the September 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy was granted a 30% rating from May 31, 2022. The condition has been rated as moderate incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of early-onset peripheral neuropathy within a year after exposure to herbicide agents in service. The Board also found that the medical evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a residual scar on his left axilla area and left upper extremity ulnar and median nerve neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptomology.

The Board has remanded the claims for separate ratings for bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the radial and ulnar nerves due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the rating issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the back, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, bladder condition, testicle condition, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence received since the June 2014 rating decision is not new and material.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and hypertension have been granted. Service connection is denied for hypertension.

The Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy is rated at 40 percent, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 7, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates and disability ratings have been withdrawn.,A new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder).