Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and peripheral neuropathy related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. The decision also grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DM, hypertension, hypothyroidism, PN RLE, and PN LLE due to duty to assist errors. Specifically, additional development is needed to verify herbicide agent exposure during service in Korea and a VA opinion is required to address whether these conditions are related to handling barrels of unknown liquid labeled hazardous material.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder disabilities, upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, elbow and wrist disabilities, hand/finger disabilities, hip and knee disabilities, ankle and foot disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss are all denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during or proximate to the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left upper extremity neuropathy due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to errors in the duty to assist.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist sprain, left thumb paresthesias, and a bilateral elbow disability are all granted. The skin disability is also granted with a specific rating of 60 percent prior to January 16, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating prior to March 2, 2020, a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to November 29, 2021, and in excess of 30 percent from November 29, 2021, for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board has granted readjudication of service connection for right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy based on receipt of new and relevant evidence. The claims are remanded to determine the cause or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The case is remanded for further examination regarding bilateral peripheral vascular disease.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the claims regarding bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy due to potential herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral upper/lower extremity diabetic neuropathies have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran is granted effective dates for awards of SMC at various rates, with the earliest being December 13, 2023. The SMC is awarded based on his service-connected conditions and their impact on his daily life.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 22, 2023 for the awards of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD), special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria (SMC), and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 21, 2020 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection related to residuals of frostbite, bilateral hip conditions, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral eye condition. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has found that the remand instructions have not been completed as directed and another remand is necessary for further evaluation of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colorectal cancer, TDIU determination, and eligibility for DEA benefits were all denied due to the lack of evidence linking his conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that TDIU is granted effective August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The Veteran's TDIU claim from July 1, 2011 is also granted.