Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities in the aggregate rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to new evidence submitted after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The claims for increased rating and initial rating will be reviewed in light of this new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various diabetes-related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Okinawa, Japan. The Veteran's spouse is seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and polycythemia.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and the claims for peripheral neuropathy in all four limbs need to be remanded for further review by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's left sural sensory polyneuropathy is related to his hernia surgery and whether this additional disability was caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity as an intermediate step. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from a qualified sleep specialist addressing both proximate causation and aggravation by hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left and right lower extremities, has been rated at the moderate level since June 1, 2018, for both legs. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a jaw disability, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, low back disability, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran contends that he developed these conditions during his active duty in Okinawa.,The Board found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the jaw disability, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, or low back disability. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded due to the Veteran's contention of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left upper extremity neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on moderate or severe incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his upper and lower extremity nerve conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims are pending further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is also granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including low back condition, cervical spine condition, knee conditions, shoulder conditions, peripheral neuropathy, and thyroid condition. The effective dates are not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as their claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for DM. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for DM.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for personality disorder, eating disorder, left and right ankle conditions with OA, right and left knee conditions with OA, OSA, hip strains, lumbar spine DDD, and neuropathy of the lower extremities. The reasons for remand include obtaining additional opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities and whether they are related to service-connected disabilities or obesity.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathic disabilities due to the need for a more current examination and obtaining relevant records from SSA.

The Board has granted an extraschedular total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from April 22, 2014 to March 18, 2022 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease have been granted.,The Board has also remanded the issues regarding peripheral vascular disease of all four extremities due to unclear etiology.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as there was a full grant of benefits for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, which constitutes a final decision.