Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to in-service herbicide exposure. The case will be reviewed with a focus on obtaining an etiological opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right wrist disability and back disability, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 9, 2015. The Board granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection grants, but the Board finds no legal basis to grant these claims.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim was reopened and granted in June 2014 with an effective date of September 17, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from September 7, 2018, to July 20, 2021. Effective September 7, 2018, the Veteran is granted Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) effective August 4, 2020.,Service connection for Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Upper Extremity (RUE) and Left Upper Extremity (LUE) associated with Diabetes Mellitus, Type II were granted effective February 21, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) and SMC at the housebound rate is granted, effective from July 13, 1989. The decision also grants a 60% rating for residuals of shell fragment wound to left leg with neuropathy of common peroneal nerve.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, as well as the claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to new evidence received.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran and his attorney.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist arthritis. The claims for left hand arthritis and neuropathy of the left upper extremity are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's stage two squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and/or malignant neoplasm of the lymph nodes of the head, face, and neck.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance is denied because the evidence does not show that he required regular aid and attendance prior to May 21, 2018.

The Board has remanded all but one of the claims for additional development, particularly to determine whether the Veteran served in Vietnam and was exposed to tactical herbicide agents. The dental disability claim is denied as there is no indication or assertion that tactical herbicide agents resulted in a dental disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 9, 2012 for the award of a TDIU and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.,Higher ratings for upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were denied due to the severity of symptoms and muscle strength levels.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because his Notice of Disagreement did not identify any specific rating action for appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and amputated left toes, require regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The March 1, 1985 rating decision denied service connection for urinary incontinence, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left foot drop. The Veteran's symptoms were not diagnosed at the time of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle strain, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. These conditions are related to in-service injuries sustained during active duty.,All four bilateral ankle and lower extremity conditions were diagnosed during or shortly after service.