Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, arthritis of the left and right upper extremities, and gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome).

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective March 24, 2016. The conditions leading to the grant of TDIU were already service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence supporting earlier effective dates or a link to active service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings on his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, knee disabilities, and varicose veins is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's need for A&A is related to his service-connected disabilities, other than blindness.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and a neurologic disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, to include peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy. The back disorder is related to an in-service helicopter crash, while the neurologic disorder is secondary to the now service-connected back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, as well as his right and left lower extremities, were reduced from various percentages to 10% effective March 1, 2022.

The Board has found the record inadequate to properly rate the severity of the Veteran's disabilities, particularly diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The Board is remanding these matters for further evaluation by VA examiners.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for rating and effective date issues related to peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Board dismissed these appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities are granted, with a rating of 20 percent for each leg. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The appeal is referred to the AOJ and VA for further development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. C.V. and any other relevant sources.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and further development is needed, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to August 5, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, Sjögren's Syndrome, and various neurological and gastrointestinal conditions related to Gulf War exposure have been reopened. Service connection is granted for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities due to exposure to jet fuel, but denied service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, a skin disability, and sleep apnea as secondary to CAD or peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The leg stents claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's diabetes and its complications, as well as his hypertension and hypothyroidism. The claims for service connection are being addressed due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted increased evaluations to 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively, for the entire appeal period.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including as secondary to hypertension and due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ needs to confirm if the Veteran served in Vietnam during his March 31, 1968 MACV mission.