Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of bilateral hearing loss and posttraumatic stress disorder. The appeal regarding service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as blockage) is remanded, and so is the one for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

Effective dates of March 16, 2015, for service connection and TDIU were granted.,Initial evaluations of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted effective March 16, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

Service connection is granted for deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis.,Service connection is also granted for Parkinson's disease, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints, diverticulitis, peripheral neuropathy as secondary to heart disease, and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy of the right and left legs, both found to be due to herbicide exposure during active duty. The Veteran's current diagnoses are presumed based on his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and bilateral foot conditions, rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 17, 2023. The Board granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and related benefits due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran's conditions arose within one year of his initial claim or prior to the effective date of the previous award.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of ratings for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, and right and left lower peripheral neuropathy from 100 percent to 40 percent, as well as the proposal to discontinue SMC at the housebound rate, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to the previously denied claims for service connection for subacute peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper and lower extremities. As a result, these claims are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings and service connection was granted, with a rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus with chronic kidney disease. The appellant is eligible to attorney fees in the amount of $1,727.28 from past-due benefits awarded in November 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left lower extremity neuropathy due to duty-to-assist errors, including failing to provide a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The claim is also remanded to satisfy a statutory and regulatory duty to obtain a VA opinion with respect to participation in a TERA for his claim for service connection for eczema considering total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities.,The issue regarding SMC by reason of being housebound is dismissed as moot because SMC based on aid and attendance has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy was granted with non-compensable disability ratings for all four extremities, effective from January 23, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to March 15, 2012 for the award of a 50 percent evaluation for cervical radiculopathy and radial neuropathy of the left upper extremity.,The Veteran is also seeking an effective date prior to March 15, 2012 for the award of a 30 percent evaluation for cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board granted higher ratings of 60 percent for left upper extremity ulnar and peripheral neuropathy (LUE) and 40 percent for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (RUE), effective August 15, 2012. The earlier effective date was granted as the Veteran continuously pursued the issue since the original claim in August 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for the remaining conditions listed.