Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities have been granted. The claim for hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act. The claim for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted were inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and stenosis, left hip arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, arthritis and radiculopathy of the bilateral feet, and arthritis and neuropathy of the bilateral hands.

The Veteran's heart conditions and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure during active duty.,Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is also granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking it to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury, including memory loss and headaches. The claims for lumbar spine disability, chest pain, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, which could affect his claims for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The issues of service connection for all other conditions are also being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve is currently rated at 20 percent each, and the Board has denied entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy is rated at 40 percent, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues have been remanded to allow for consideration of new and pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and left focal mononeuropathy of the long thoracic nerve were granted initial ratings. The left ear hearing loss claim was remanded for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and remanded several issues of service connection due to his active military service. The issues of service connection for OSA, bilateral knee conditions, headaches, right-hand condition, left-hand condition, and left hip condition are now pending.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent from June 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023. A 100 percent rating is granted for the period from September 1, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment as of October 6, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues of service connection and ratings for various conditions. The Board is remanding several cases for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability), bilateral thumb disorders, bilateral index finger disorders, bilateral little finger disorders, bilateral middle finger disorders, bilateral ring finger disorders, bilateral shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and bilateral elbow disorder are all being remanded for further examination and evidence collection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background prior to March 30, 2018, and from October 1, 2019. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for squamous cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities due to inadequate medical opinions addressing service connection based on herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to seek clarification from the physician who prepared the December 2023 TERA opinion regarding the Veteran's diabetes status.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% from July 26, 2017. The application for TDIU was dismissed as the PTSD alone rendered him eligible for a total disability rating. SMC at the housebound rate is granted from July 26, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period between February 21, 2013, to May 15, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period from May 16, 2014, to August 31, 2020. The Veteran's combined rating at this time did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and its relationship to service.