Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent, effective from July 9, 2021. The left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy remains at the initial 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiac heart condition, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic renal dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension or service connection for hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's GERD is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.,The evidence is in equipoise as to whether chronic kidney disease was caused by type II diabetes mellitus. The Board has also granted service connection for this secondary disability.,Similarly, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities were caused by type II diabetes mellitus. The Board has granted service connection for these secondary disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetic polyneuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted at a 20 percent rating, effective August 2, 2022.,However, higher initial ratings are denied for diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypothyroidism, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, stomach ulcers, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates related to service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no other formal claims prior to the currently assigned effective dates that would entitle the Veteran to earlier effective dates.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings on multiple diabetic and amputation conditions has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied service connection for lower neuropathy, right leg and left leg due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to active service. The claim for PTSD is remanded as it requires verification of claimed stressors.

The Veteran's demyelinating polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is at least as likely as not due to in-service herbicide exposure, and the Board grants presumptive service connection for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (numbness, pain and tingling) right upper extremity, left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and left upper extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request for HLR of the July 25, 2023 SSOC was timely. The AOJ should process the Veteran's timely filed VA Form 20-0996 as it pertains to his claims for entitlement to service connection outlined in the July 2023 SSOC.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus aggravated his existing peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, CAD, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's presence in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos is unclear, and VA failed to conduct necessary research into his claimed exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, heart disability, residuals of head and face injury, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), chronic stomach disability, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) is remanded due to inconsistencies and inadequacies in the examination reports. An additional examination is required to determine which nerves are involved and for what period of time.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted with an effective date of January 4, 2015. The claim for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted with the same effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated for their impact on his ability to care for himself.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy, bone cancer in spine, brain stem cancer, and lung cancer are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, review of outstanding records, and application of the combat presumption.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity and left lower extremity as secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism.