Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2025

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy in all extremities.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents caused his condition.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for left foot cold injury residuals and peripheral neuropathy was dismissed due to the concurrent election of review requests.

The appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was dismissed, and the claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left lower extremity neuropathy, femoral and sciatic nerves, but denied an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis as secondary to peripheral neuropathy and earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The claims for initial ratings were denied or remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, knee osteoarthritis, COPD, and GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has additional disabilities that meet the criteria for a TDIU. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and special monthly compensation, as well as ratings for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder and denied service connection for right foot numbness and left foot numbness.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions or symptoms that cause functional loss.

The appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2023 rating decision was denied.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the low back and right leg, finding that there was no evidence of separate and apart neuropathies from meralgia paresthetica.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology, or a causal relationship to an in-service injury or disease.

The claim for service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy was dismissed because the Veteran is already in receipt of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and there is no medical evidence showing a diagnosis of neuropathy.

The appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2023 rating decision was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a compensable disability rating for the scar on the left upper thigh, residual shrapnel wounds, and PTSD. However, it granted service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to PTSD and neuropathy of the feet also as secondary to alcohol abuse disorder.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremity.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing and determining whether an examination is necessary.

The Board denied service connection for diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and various forms of peripheral neuropathy as not being etiologically related to the Veteran's active duty service.