Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy since October 17, 2022. Prior to this date, the Veteran's condition was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and associated polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board finds that VA is obligated to provide an examination or medical opinion in a claim of service connection when the record contains competent evidence of a current disability or persistent or recurrent symptoms of a disability, and the record indicates that the disability may be associated with active service.

From May 9, 2016, forward, a 40-percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted.,From May 9, 2016, forward, a 50-percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is granted.,From May 9, 2016, to March 29, 2017, a 40-percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted.,From May 9, 2016, to March 29, 2017, a 40-percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and multiple forms of neuropathy associated with CAD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and clarifying the Veteran's work history.

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The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand condition, claimed as peripheral neuropathy, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his conditions and either his service or his service-connected dermatitis.

The Veteran's hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as service connected.,Dextrocardia is denied due to not being a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with TBI and facial neuropathy affecting cranial nerve VII were denied. The rating for the psychiatric condition remains at 50 percent, while the facial condition is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC were denied. The earliest possible effective dates are January 27, 2017.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both the left and right lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer due to a lack of relevant medical records. The Veteran's other claims for knee and peripheral neuropathy disabilities are granted based on new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of increased rating for diabetes mellitus and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran needs an additional VA examination to assess his type II diabetes mellitus, including any complications such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted with a disability rating of 40 percent for each leg.,The Veteran's eye disability (cataracts) and headaches are remanded as the evidence is insufficient to determine their etiology.

Service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy is denied.,Service connection for a scar of colon removal as secondary to rectal adenocarcinoma is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for left lower extremity polyneuropathy from January 28, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show marked muscle atrophy or complete paralysis.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity and left upper extremity neuropathy, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of the conditions and insufficient medical opinion to support a nexus between current nerve disorders and service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left leg peripheral neuropathy, finding that it manifested during his active service and is related to a surgery he underwent in the groin area.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, but the Board finds that no such effective dates are warranted based on the evidence of record.,For his back disability, the Veteran seeks an earlier effective date due to CUE in a March 2012 rating decision. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error.