Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity neuropathy with superficial peroneal nerve involvement.

The Veteran's left thumb neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the symptoms more closely approximated moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, tinnitus, hearing loss, and hypertension. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability manifested by pain, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay reports of continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic bilateral peripheral neuropathy, lower extremities, diabetic bilateral peripheral neuropathy, upper extremities, glaucoma, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to lack of qualifying disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service personnel and treatment records may be missing, leading to a remand for obtaining these records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to this lack of information.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and right foot neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's VA treatment records from June 2023 to December 2021 are not in the claims file.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for left hip condition has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for difficulty breathing, shortness of breath has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for left leg peripheral neuropathy (also claimed as bilateral leg cramps) has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for right leg peripheral neuropathy (also claimed as bilateral leg cramps) has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.,The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for plantar fasciitis (also claimed as bilateral foot pain) has been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, finding that the evidence supports a moderately severe incomplete paralysis level.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease with urinary problems and related conditions, have rendered him unable to ambulate without the aid of assistive devices. As a result, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 10, 2021, based on the Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, a stroke and residual symptoms, a right elbow disorder, and lower extremity neuropathy must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's left hip limitation of extension is granted a 10 percent rating from June 14, 2021. The ratings for left ear hearing loss, right foot neuropathy, left foot neuropathy, right great toe scar, and left great toe scar are denied. A compensable rating for right knee scars is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including hypertension, headaches, pseudoseizures, right and left hand neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds good cause for missing the appointments.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease, allergic rhinitis (claimed as respiratory condition), peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity all secondary to his kidney disease. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding increased ratings for an adjustment disorder, left and right leg neuropathy, and diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service herbicide exposure.