Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with Court's instructions regarding the Veteran's November 29, 2018 brief. The claim is being returned for further review of updated medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, bradycardia, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ulnar neuropathy and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a right shoulder condition due to service-connected right ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's DM2 and hypertension are rated as 20 percent disabling, but his lower extremity neuropathies do not warrant separate ratings. The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service or any service-connected disabilities.,Throughout the period on appeal, the residuals symptoms of prostate cancer did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, venous stasis (also claimed as venous reflux disease), heart arrhythmia (atriial fibrillation), left kidney dysfunction, neuropathy of the bilateral hands, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of claim. The initial ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for syncope, diabetes mellitus Type II (DM II), left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and a lumbar disability due to inadequate development of evidence. The appellant's service records show episodes of syncope during service and post-service, as well as DM II identified in 1988. The claims are now returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from June 30, 2010. The SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) for the period beginning on December 16, 2015, but not earlier, is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding when the Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy first manifested.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various diabetic conditions, including neuropathies and retinopathy. The Veteran withdrew his appeals before the decision was finalized.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service near the Korean DMZ.

The Board denied service connection for ulnar neuropathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right and left tennis elbow, left shoulder arthritis, left hand neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. The PACT Act expanded the presumptive exposure for hypertension to include veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of a temporary total rating based on need convalescence following left ulnar nerve surgery is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left ulnar neuropathy, post operative, is also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for updated VA records, employment history information, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates has been granted.,Effective from July 23, 2007, the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. Effective from May 10, 2021, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since July 23, 2007. The effective date remains unchanged.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. A VA examination will be scheduled for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and nephropathy with hypertension; bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves; bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy; and a lumbar spine disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU for the entire period of the appeal.