Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, as well as a higher rating for the veteran's depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for both right and left lower extremity common peroneal nerve peripheral neuropathy, as the evidence showed no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the common peroneal nerve with symptoms such as paresthesias, numbness, and hypoactive ankle reflexes.

The Board granted an effective date of December 19, 2016, for the award of a separate rating for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy impacting the anterior crural nerves but denied earlier effective dates for the sciatic nerve conditions.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction and denied service connection for PTSD, as well as various claims related to peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation more than 20 percent for a cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right heel spur, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to an upper back disability and plantar fasciitis, and sleep disturbances.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer residuals, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy in the right and left lower extremities due to herbicide exposure, as well as special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The claims for service connection for an eye condition, vertigo/dizziness, GERD/reflux, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right wrist degenerative joint disease, left wrist degenerative joint disease, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, a right foot condition, a left foot condition, and a right achilles tendon/ankle condition were denied. The claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease/high blood pressure, sinusitis, headaches, allergic rhinitis, and a skin condition were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and early-onset peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence of these conditions during the Veteran's service or after. The earliest effective date for entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's cause of death was February 3, 2006.

The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for depressive disorder and a 60 percent disability rating for focal mononeuropathy with winged scapula, long thoracic nerve, while also granting service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board denied ratings higher than 10 percent for bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy prior to February 9, 2023 and higher than 20 percent on February 9, 2023 and thereafter. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted prior to February 13, 2015.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes, hypertension, monoclonal gammopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral femoral and sciatic nerves, chronic kidney disease, anemia, and upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy on a direct basis or secondary to diabetes, effective November 5, 2021.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 22, 2023, for the award of service connection and increased ratings for right and left lower extremity neuropathy. The claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was readjudicated, and a higher initial disability rating was assigned. The appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Board granted an effective date of July 3, 2019 for the grant of service connection for urolithiasis/kidney stones and denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were granted, while the claim for a compensable rating for hypertension was denied. A 40 percent rating was granted for diabetes mellitus type II with retinopathy.

The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism, which is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied a compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral feet but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including shoulder, spine, knee, and extremity conditions, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to the Veteran's military service.