Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted an initial 40 percent rating, effective January 22, 2020. Service connection for anxiety, readjustment disorder, and major depression is denied. The claim of service connection for neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Meniere's disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, coronary arteriosclerosis, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to service-connected hearing loss. The claims are being remanded because VA did not provide a medical examination in association with these claims, and there is insufficient evidence to support a full grant of the benefit sought.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (radial nerve) and reinstated the disability ratings for internal fixation, right proximal radius, limitation of flexion, and right elbow supination impairment. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right forearm limitation of extension is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was denied as there is no evidence showing an earlier effective date prior to July 5, 2024.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate notice and an inadequately supported medical opinion, requiring further review of eligibility for PCAFC benefits based on need for personal care services related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2017 for the grant of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted with an effective date of July 10, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy may be related to his military service, including herbicide agent exposure. However, a VA medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's current neuropathy is causally or etiologically related to his military service and if it is caused by or resulted from his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for RUE peripheral neuropathy as of April 8, 2020. The appellant's chronic sinusitis is also granted with a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates were dismissed as he withdrew his claims prior to the Board hearing.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and remands the claims for further development, including obtaining private medical records and researching whether the Veteran's service on USS NEOSHO exposed him to herbicides.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran was granted an initial 40 percent rating for BPH associated with PTSD and a 30 percent rating for dermatitis from October 23, 2025 onwards. Other issues were either denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, right upper peripheral neuropathy, and left upper peripheral neuropathy due to new evidence received after the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right lower peripheral neuropathy, left lower peripheral neuropathy, and stomach pain (claimed as possible prostate issue) due to new evidence received after the January 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted initial ratings of 40 percent, but no higher, throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum SMC rate due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD/MDD at 60% or more.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claims for vertigo, breast cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). The claim for coronary atherosclerotic disease is also remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder scars are not service-connected and do not warrant a compensable disability rating.,The Veteran's left foot neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for brain damage, lumbar spine disability, or right leg disability (deep vein thrombosis) has not been established by the evidence of record.,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any incidents related to burn pits, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Therefore, no specific exposure basis can be determined.,No new and material evidence has been submitted for brain damage, lumbar spine disability, or right leg disability (deep vein thrombosis).,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any incidents related to burn pits, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Therefore, no specific exposure basis can be determined.,,None of the issues have a clear and convincing evidence that supports their resolution in favor of the Veteran.