Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2026

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the rating decision on review. The effective date for TDIU is set at January 31, 2021, based on the last day of employment. However, the RO needs to obtain SSA records regarding earnings from July 2020 to January 31, 2021, to determine if the Veteran's employment was marginal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and his hypertension is granted an initial rating of 10 percent. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 10, 2020 for service connection of left arm neuropathy with bicep atrophy and increased rating for left elbow small chip fracture with debridement of multiple fragment wounds were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a right knee disability was remanded. The claims for an earlier effective date for 20% ratings for painful scars on the left elbow, right knee, and lower lip were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's current skin conditions, including basal cell carcinoma, COPD, sleep apnea, GERD, DVT, pulmonary embolism, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and cervical spine disability are not related to his service-connected disabilities or his conceded TERAs.

The Veteran's hypertension, left and right lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and tremor-related disorder (claimed as Parkinsonism) are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agent during service. However, the claim for service connection of a tremor-related disorder is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including loss of teeth due to bone loss, foot fractures, neck strain, peripheral neuropathy, and visual impairment, were denied as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The issues concerning effective dates and disability ratings are not addressed as they were not decided.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including SMC based on loss of use of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as rating increases for various neuropathies. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions have manifested with the loss of use of his hands, legs, and feet.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of both lower extremities is being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant private medical records. The AOJ will consider these records when readjudicating the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding past-due benefits awarded in the March 20, 2023 rating decision. The matter is being returned for further adjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and urinary incontinence, finding no current diagnoses or credible evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet has been granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent, effective December 28, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, type II diabetes, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and sleep apnea as they have become service-connected in other rating decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his service exposure to firefighting foam, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to grant service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, prostate condition, headaches, IBS, behavioral neurology conditions, and acquired psychological condition due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various peripheral neuropathy conditions of the upper and lower extremities have been denied. The AOJ has assigned separate evaluations based on the severity of each nerve condition, with some increases in rating effective October 29, 2025.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 31, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, and also granted service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the right upper, right lower, left upper, and left lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for SMC based on housebound status and need for aid and attendance, finding that he did not meet the criteria for these benefits prior to the specified dates.