Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. His unspecified depressive disorder and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are also granted, with the latter two conditions being presumed based on their association with diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not rated compensable, and the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability with neuropathy is remanded due to a lack of an opinion regarding its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right extremities due to a medical nexus between in-service exposure and current diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for reductions in ratings from 10% to 0% for service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve on both sides, finding that there was actual improvement and an ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are granted with a 40% rating, effective July 26, 2021. The earlier effective dates for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disability, right arm numbness, left arm numbness, right lower extremity numbness, and hypertension. The claims are pending further review.

The Veteran's left upper arm peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the March 6, 2019 SOC was dismissed as untimely due to failure to file a VA Form 10182 within the required time frame.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, COPD, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's cervical neuropathy, LUE, with spotty hypesthesia left forearm (residuals of Hansen's disease), previously rated as (spotty hypesthesia left forearm (residuals of Hansen's disease)), is denied a rating higher than 20 percent.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy (sciatic) of each LE, with spotty hypesthesia, dorsum of foot, leg, and thigh (residuals of Hansen's disease now claimed as Leprosy), is denied ratings higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's spotty hypesthesia involving the right cheek (residuals of Hansen's disease) is denied a compensable rating.,The Veteran's loss of smell (residuals of Hansen's disease also claimed as leprosy) is denied an initial compensable rating.,The Veteran's loss of taste (residuals of Hansen's disease also claimed as leprosy) is denied an initial compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including degeneration of lumbar disc, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, pancreatitis, and ventral hernia. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for left ankle disability, bilateral foot disabilities, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, or lumbar spine disability. The right ankle disability is also denied. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance status has been fully granted with an effective date of June 29, 2017. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board has dismissed the issues regarding earlier effective dates of service connection for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy as they were not appealed to the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain disease due to trauma (traumatic brain injury), paralysis of the median nerve (right hand neuropathy), and paralysis of the median nerve (left hand neuropathy) have all been denied.,The Veteran was granted an initial 20 percent rating for her service-connected fibromyalgia, but her claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy in the left and right lower extremities has been granted separate ratings of 10 percent for each affected nerve, effective August 4, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than November 1, 2013 for additional dependency benefits for his spouse was denied as he did not provide all necessary information to establish his entitlement within one year of the April 2012 rating decision.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 27, 2019 for service connection for transmetatarsal amputation of the bilateral feet and SMC based on loss of use of the feet. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is denied as it was not filed prior to February 18, 2019.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 27, 2019 for service connection for transmetatarsal amputation of the bilateral feet and SMC based on loss of use of the feet. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is denied as it was not filed prior to February 18, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative joint disease.