Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 24, 2010, for service connection of left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with radiculopathy.,The decision found that the earliest diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy was on March 24, 2010, which is when service connection was established.

The Board has remanded the claims for posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to outstanding evidence from the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) related to a compensation benefits fraud investigation conducted in 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as well as remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claims for further review, including a medical opinion to clarify certain symptoms and an assessment of loss of use of extremities.

The Board denied service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as there was no evidence of a current disability during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for median neuropathy of the right and left wrist are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disabilities are not sufficient to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC under 38 USC § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's death to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremity (BLE), and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fuel, as well as other identified TERAs. The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent neurological disabilities, thyroid disability, and prostate cancer are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the January 2021 VA opinion is inadequate to decide the service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy, and has therefore remanded the matter.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is service connected due to herbicide exposure.,His peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are secondary to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities prior to August 10, 2022. The claims were based on direct service connection due to chemical exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment as of February 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 2, 2019, and from February 1, 2021, is denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not result in the loss of use of both feet, as determined by VA examinations and lay statements. Therefore, he is not entitled to SMC based on loss of use of both feet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to August 10, 2022. Beginning August 10, 2022, his combined disability rating is 100 percent and the issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left leg neuropathy, numbness, and nerve damage did not manifest in service or are otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied. The Board also found no evidence of a current right ankle disability and thus remanded the issue for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy manifested in service, within one year of separation from service, or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his TDIU and DEA benefits. The Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation Service is required due to a reasonable possibility of unemployability prior to April 28, 2016.