Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that it was at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board granted the veteran's appeal and restored the 40% rating for right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, the 40% rating for left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, the 30% rating for right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the femoral nerve, and the 30% rating for left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the femoral nerve.

The Board granted service connection for acute, subacute or old myocardial infarction and arteriosclerotic heart disease status post artery bypass graft, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, with diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and erectile dysfunction, and bilateral open angle glaucoma.

The Board denied service connection for throat cancer and diverticulitis, but remanded claims related to heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, diabetic ulcer of the left foot, and a rating of total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right foot neuropathy to correct a pre-decisional error in obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the right and left upper extremities as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and initial ratings for various conditions, except for left upper extremity radial and lower radicular group peripheral neuropathy which was granted an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability and that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for recurrent tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for a heart disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as residuals of a stroke, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic and femoral), and hypertension based on in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus, as well as for peripheral neuropathy in various extremities.

The Board granted service connection for cold injury residuals of the bilateral lower extremities, to include peripheral neuropathy, based on evidence showing in-service exposure and ongoing symptoms.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right lower extremity disability and left upper extremity disability to better reflect the scope of the claims.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings, except for TDIU and DEA which were granted as of May 1, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and various peripheral neuropathies and cardiovascular disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's migraines are reasonably shown to have manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity idiopathic neuropathy, finding the Veteran's symptoms to be equivalent to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip arthritis, a bilateral knee condition, bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy, and toe fungus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to these conditions during or proximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an eye disability, currently diagnosed as left eye blindness due to pseudotumor cerebri with left eye optic neuropathy, bilateral optic atrophy, and bilateral papilledema.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and opinions addressing service connection theories.