Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis is granted, while the claims for sinusitis, myopia, cervical spine disability with arthritis, erectile dysfunction, left ankle sprain and Achilles tendon disability, left shoulder sprain, right shoulder sprain, pulled groin, left knee strain, right knee strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right ankle sprain and Achilles tendon disability, left carpal tunnel disability, right carpal tunnel disability, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage), left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage), and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported dates of service and exposure, as well as deficiencies in the VA's research efforts. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure in Guam have been granted. The effective date is not specified as it pertains to a presumption under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions constitute an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness related to the Veteran's Persian Gulf service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of left and right total knee replacements, as well as an initial rating for right femoral neuropathy, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran’s disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for a 40 percent rating under DC 5055 due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness in his knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, as he is able to perform most of his daily activities independently.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, and lumbar radiculopathy of the right femoral nerve associated with their respective service-connected conditions have all been denied. The claim for intervertebral disc syndrome has had its rating continued at 40 percent.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as the Veteran did not timely file a VA Form 10182 in response to the March 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cirrhosis of the liver and acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy, both secondary to service-connected PTSD. The VA will obtain new opinions regarding whether the Veteran's alcohol abuse is secondary to his PTSD and if so, whether it caused his cirrhosis of the liver and/or aggravated his neuropathy.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as the Veteran did not timely file a VA Form 10182 in response to the March 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development regarding herbicide exposure and peripheral vascular disease. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and hallux valgus, as well as a separate disability rating for hallux valgus. The remand requires additional medical opinions to address causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to potential exposure to toxins during service, including herbicide agents.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a TDIU for the period beginning October 19, 2023, as it was fully granted. The claim is remanded to consider whether entitlement to a TDIU during the one-year lookback period prior to October 19, 2023, is warranted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted, but his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. His claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma remains pending due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the reduction of disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, and thus these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's request for higher initial staged ratings for neuropathy of the left upper extremity and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for neuropathy of the right upper extremity is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. No one has requested substitution for the Veteran.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity neuropathy of the femoral nerve are also currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is denied.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left lower extremity neuropathy.