Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including inadequate VA examination opinions and a failure to obtain examinations for bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy and GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy is dismissed. The claims of service connection for TBI, anxiety disorder with panic attacks, GERD, and female hypoactive sexual desire disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 40 percent for idiopathic peripheral autonomic neuropathy, right upper extremity (RUE neuropathy) has been granted. The Board found that her symptoms more closely approximated moderate incomplete paralysis of the ulnar, radial, and median nerves in the major upper extremity.

The Veteran's claims for special home adaptation and specially adapted housing were denied because he does not have a permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion due to the loss or loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has restored the original disability ratings of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both the right and left lower extremities, effective May 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hand, foot, and knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of her conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA examinations and provide appropriate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are denied as there was no prior claim filed before September 12, 2022.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board is remanding for a VA oncologist to provide an opinion on whether his mesothelioma could be causally related to his service or if it contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board is remanding the case for further development to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA oncologist regarding the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining VA treatment records not yet in his file and obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates prior to June 26, 2016, for the awards of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 19, 2005.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 40 percent from October 26, 2021.

The Board has determined that the reduction of ratings for right arm radial nerve neuropathy and thoracic outlet syndrome with acromioclavicular arthritis in your right shoulder from their current levels to non-compensable effective April 1, 2020 was proper. The decision also states that restoration of these ratings is denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected monoclonal gammopathy, finding that the condition is stable with no associated symptoms or impairment.

New evidence has been submitted that may support the Veteran's claims for service connection. The AOJ will review these new claims and determine if they meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the obturator nerve, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting ilio-inguinal nerve have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of liver (claimed as cirrhosis of the liver due to having hepatitis due to exposure) has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further action on his claim of service connection for sleep apnea.,His appeals regarding earlier effective dates and special monthly compensation have been dismissed due to withdrawal or grant of benefits.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board is remanding for a VA oncologist to provide an opinion on whether his mesothelioma could be causally related to his service or if it contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type 2 with pseudophakia associated with herbicide exposure is denied.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has been granted service connection for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has also been granted service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has also been granted service connection for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has also been granted service connection for right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.