Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is advised to provide updated medical records from various VA facilities and complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any private providers who have treated his disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent since September 22, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent disability evaluation, effective from April 29, 2016. All other service-connected conditions remain unchanged.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for low back disorder, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The cervical spine disorder claim is also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the original rating decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and denied claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, colon cancer, and mass on the liver. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension, which includes diabetic peripheral neuropathy as part of his diabetes mellitus, should be remanded to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% since the claim was filed, and other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted TDIU prior to March 9, 2015. The Board finds that referral for extraschedular TDIU under § 4.16(b) is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and deviated nasal septum were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is rated at 20 percent from June 1, 2012. The Board also granted service connection for a respiratory condition and neuropathy of the left upper extremity secondary to his service-connected lymphoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional information regarding the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which he claims was caused by his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, alcohol abuse, and erectile dysfunction. The remaining issues of service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral arm neuropathy, mouth disability, and respiratory disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus based on herbicide exposure, cataracts secondary to diabetes mellitus, fungal infection secondary to diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, renal disease, left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The evidence submitted since the last final denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy from May 1, 2010 is granted. The issue of increases in the ratings assigned for type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, right shoulder disability, lower back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, left ankle disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The effective date of these grants is July 18, 2018. However, the TDIU claim remains pending as it was not formally filed in conjunction with other claims.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and bilateral lower extremities peripheral neuropathy, effective July 26, 2007. The evaluations are subject to the statutes and regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The earliest clinical evidence of peripheral neuropathy is not for several decades after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the last SSOC and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his service, including his presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied as there is no current diagnosis.