Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, and polyneuropathy have been granted service connection and assigned initial disability ratings. The effective date for the prostate cancer residuals is February 13, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy in the bilateral lower extremities (femoral nerve) have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetic neuropathy in the bilateral upper extremities have also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for calendar years 2020 and 2021 are being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his prior clothing allowance approvals, specifically related to back braces.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and requires additional medical examination and opinion for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for breathing problems and RLE neuropathy, and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a VA toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinion.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity associated with diabetes type II with erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, and various neuropathies have been granted initial disability ratings. The effective date for service connection for prostate cancer residuals is February 13, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient information regarding the extent of the Veteran's heart disability, severity of scars associated with his heart disability, etiology of tinnitus, hearing loss, and peripheral disorders. The claims are being returned for further clarification and additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also not found to be related to service.,There is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss that meets VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 15, 2024 for the award of a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy of the femoral nerve.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective July 15, 2022.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating for her right foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, vertigo, low back disability, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left arm and right arm disabilities, left elbow and right elbow disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, left hand little finger, right hand little finger, left hand index finger, right hand index finger, left hand long finger, right hand long finger, left hand ring finger, right hand ring finger, left hand thumb, right hand thumb, left knee, right knee, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity cold exposure, right upper extremity cold exposure, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability have also been remanded.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of his upper and lower extremities, all effective November 2, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing (SAH) and a special home adaptation grant were remanded due to the AOJ overlooking favorable legal determinations that greatly expanded his service-connected disability picture.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 60% for chronic kidney disease/diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, 20% for diabetes mellitus, type II, and 10% each for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's GIST, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals related to the issues of service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, gout, hypertension, nephrolithiasis and stage IV kidney failure, left knee replacement and pain disability, right knee pain disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy (hand numbness), left lower extremity neuropathy and radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy (hand numbness), right lower extremity neuropathy and radiculopathy, lumbar back pain and degenerative joint disease (DJD), and atrial fibrillation and coronary calcifications, status-post ablation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are not related to his service, including his exposure to herbicide agents. Therefore, service connection for these claims is denied.