Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DMII and bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathies are being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.,The Board finds that a duty to assist occurred in these secondary service-connection claims, requiring further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to July 8, 2021 is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The VA needs to obtain private medical records from providers who treated the Veteran for his service-connected bilateral lower and upper extremity neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and neuropathy in the right hand due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for bilateral peripheral venous insufficiency is remanded as there are insufficient medical records to determine if it is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disorder, kidney disease, nephropathy, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the appeal due to a pending legacy appeal, and thus dismisses the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for service-connected low back derangement with discogenic disease is granted.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from December 8, 2020 and SMC at the housebound rate from June 24, 2021 due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right small fiber neuropathy, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected knee conditions or any other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, sciatic neuropathy, and shoulder and knee disabilities have been denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate consideration of his lay statements regarding the onset and history of his symptoms, as well as failure to ensure substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

Service connection for right upper extremity and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is restored.,Service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been dismissed due to a request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left sciatic nerves, as well as his prostate cancer, are rated at specific levels prior to June 10, 2021.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is granted from August 30, 2018 to November 1, 2021.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder disability and remanded the claim for a left upper extremity (LUE) neuropathy evaluation.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 8, 2019 for the grant of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities (femoral nerve).

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a back condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, and various musculoskeletal disorders. The appeal of the claims for a back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board granted service connection for multiple heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathies, bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions associated with herbicide exposure are denied as they were not based on additional official service department records, and the effective date is April 1, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability from February 22, 2021, through February 22, 2022, and an earlier effective date of February 22, 2021, for the grant of eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.