Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea and obesity.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, particularly from facilities in the Bronx, Puerto Rico, and Gainesville.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not result in the need for regular aid and attendance or permanent bedridden status at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 12, 2021 for the grant of service connection for kidney cancer, s/p nephroureterectomy, and residual scars, s/p left nephroureterectomy. The Veteran also received SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left hand third finger fracture, left median nerve neuropathy, and right median nerve neuropathy have been denied. The highest schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned for each condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 2, 2020 for the grant of service connection and a 20% disability rating for right deep peroneal nerve neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there was no prior claim filed before October 14, 2019.,New evidence has been received to support the service connection claims for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil and adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. These claims are now granted.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC based on housebound status are both granted due to his service-connected atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. He also has other service-connected disabilities that meet the criteria for SMC.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential toxic exposure in service. The IBS with GERD claim is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for further development.,No specific effective date is assigned as all issues have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining a missing record that could affect the effective date of the grant of accrued benefits.

The Veteran was awarded a TDIU due solely to PTSD from June 26, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.,From March 6, 2023, the Veteran also received SMC at the housebound rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, right foot peripheral neuropathy, and left foot peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve have been granted a 40 percent rating, effective March 23, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, sinus headaches, right and left lower extremity neuropathy, pseudofolliculitis barbae of the skin, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to errors in obtaining VA treatment records and opinions. The Veteran is entitled to bilateral hearing loss, but not to left ear hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis. Service connection is granted for plantar warts of the feet. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed regarding his knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's competent statements about continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and higher initial disability ratings due to insufficient evidence of claims prior to the specified dates.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy, finding no current disability at the time of the claim. The claims for a kidney disorder and peripheral arterial diseases were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and allergic rhinitis, based on presumptive service connection for exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied on a direct basis.