Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's initial disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity has been granted at a 40 percent level, effective from April 23, 2012. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and various neuropathy disorders and hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any in-service endocrine, cardiovascular, or vision injury, disease, or event, and that symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, and a vision disorder were not continuous after service separation or manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, diabetes mellitus type II remains at 10 percent, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are both rated at 10 percent. Service connection for hypertension was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and an eye disability, to include dry eye syndrome. The Veteran's claim for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied as his current nerve disability does not appear to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity as there was no current VA examination due to the Veteran's failure to report for necessary examinations.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, including loss of use due to ankylosis and a ganglion cyst, is rated at 60 percent from March 26, 2019. The scar issue remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (claimed as impotence), and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms during service or continuity of symptomatology after separation from active duty. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by medical opinions linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the appellant's claimed conditions and exposure. The issues of diabetes mellitus, back disability, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and eye disability are all related and require further examination.

The Veteran's death benefits are being reviewed, including the disbursement of compensation owed at his time of death and a higher level of DIC benefits. The VA is required to conduct an audit of all funds due and paid to the Veteran and his fiduciary from January 2014 onwards. The appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are also being considered.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that it was not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, muscle pain disability, and gastrointestinal disability due to presumed exposure at a burn pit during service. The Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for increased ratings and service connection, citing satisfaction with the current decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremities peripheral neuropathy as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity and functional impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his L4 nerve root injuries and left elbow neuropathy. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine these impacts.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and cervical radiculopathy (claimed as peripheral neuropathy of the hands), including as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, lower extremity PN of the sciatic and femoral nerves, chronic renal disease, and diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues during a hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents and as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including his right foot disability. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's upper extremity neuropathy, shoulder disorders, and wrist disorders are related to his in-service exposure or service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board found that VA waived any objection to the timeliness of the filing of the Veteran's substantive appeal, and thus granted the appeal for all issues listed in the August 2016 rating decision.