Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board has remanded the issues of left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and RUE neuropathy have been granted service connection, effective May 12, 2015.

All issues of service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to improper appeal or untimely submission.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as secondary service connection for these conditions. The decision is pending further review.

The Board granted service connection for left tibial neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot Morton's neuroma.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy, specifically whether it is related to his military service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left lower radiculopathy have been rated at 40 percent since February 27, 2020.,Both conditions are currently rated as moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while in Subic Bay, Philippines. The AOJ is instructed to contact appropriate agencies to verify the Veteran's potential exposure to Agent Orange during his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication.,Service connection for paralysis of the sciatic nerve (peripheral neuropathy, left foot) and right foot have both been granted due to equipoise in the evidence supporting their secondary nature to a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating as his diastolic pressure was never predominantly 100 or more and he does not require continuous medication for control.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to inextricably intertwined with service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate, particularly regarding the etiology of peripheral neuropathy and eye disorders. The Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,Separate disability ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic eye disorders (diabetic retinopathy) are remanded due to conflicting medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities worsened to the point of unemployability between June 1, 2022 and August 9, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus, type II have been granted. The Board also found that the effective dates of these grants are August 5, 2021.

The Veteran's initial ratings for sciatic nerve conditions in the lower extremities have been granted. The appeal regarding fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and other disabilities is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a duty to assist error, specifically missing VistA Imaging records that are pertinent to the claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and CAD have been granted effective March 27, 2019. The claims were initially filed in July 2013, but the effective date was adjusted to August 10, 2022 due to a PACT Act change.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable due to blood pressure readings that do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,There are no diagnosed conditions of the left elbow or upper extremity, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of peripheral neuropathy, finding that it was not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for new medical opinions regarding his stroke, eye disorders, and peripheral nerve conditions. The hypertension claim is no longer part of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to carbon tetrachloride and ionizing radiation during service. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions on whether these exposures caused or contributed to the Veteran's claimed conditions.