Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's liver disability, skin cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for simple phobia vehophobia was denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The appeal regarding an increased rating for PTSD remains pending, as does the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, TDIU, and DEA benefits are denied.,The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to October 9, 2017, as his combined disability rating was already at 100% on that date.,The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also denied due to the effective date being set at October 9, 2017.

The appeal for service connection of left foot plantar fasciitis neuropathy is dismissed due to the Veteran not selecting a review option on her VA Form 10182.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as there is no current diagnosis of or treatment for bilateral upper and/or lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rhinitis, hypogeusia, and dysphagia were denied. The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 80 percent prior to April 17, 2018, for dysphagia, cranial nerve IX, but the claim for a higher rating after that date is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure. The claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities, which have rendered him wheelchair dependent and unable to perform daily tasks.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity neuropathy as the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for dysphagia and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected COPD.,The Board found that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his service-connected COPD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective November 15, 2019. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of his most recent VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date earlier than May 10, 2017 and a higher rating for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy required the care of another person from February 10, 2014, and his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance was granted effective that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of each extremity due to errors in duty to assist. The Veteran's treatment records need to be associated with his file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current disability level does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the earliest available effective date is February 15, 2023.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of October 20, 2009. He is granted TDIU from that date and eligibility for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides during active service.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute combined drug toxicity (heroin and fentanyl), which is not service-connected due to the character of his discharge from active duty. The diabetes and neuropathy, while service-connected, did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Veteran's initial ratings for sciatic nerve left lower extremity, median nerve left upper extremity, and sciatic nerve right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran is granted a 20% rating for each condition.