Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding it is at least as likely as not due to his diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, PTSD with major depressive disorder, and TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 7, 2020 and a 40 percent rating thereafter for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity. The right lower extremity issue is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of objective criteria for defining terms 'mild,' 'moderate,' 'moderately severe,' and 'severe' incomplete paralysis under Diagnostic Code 8520, which pertains to left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent is now remanded for the August 2019 examiner to provide such objective criteria.

The appeal of the reduction in disability ratings for prostate cancer and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is dismissed as moot due to the restoration of the prior rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the appellant is not eligible for substitution as he did not file a valid claim or request for higher level review at the time of his death.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective December 13, 2011. A rating in excess of 40 percent for the period prior to December 11, 2019, was dismissed. The Veteran's right lower extremity neuropathy has been granted a 20 percent rating since September 24, 2020. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied as it did not occur within one year of service. Chronic sinusitis and right ear hearing loss are presumed to be related to military service. The Veteran's left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities were all denied. Bronchitis was granted effective August 10, 2022 (PACT Act). TDIU is granted effective November 20, 2012.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, both effective February 23, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the feet are granted due to in-service herbicide exposure.,Service connection is also granted for a dental disorder on a presumptive basis.

The Board denied increased ratings for small fiber peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that symptoms were most analogous to mild incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 12, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board found that the Veteran's unit was not located in or near the Korean DMZ, and thus did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and concluding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's pes planus and his current condition.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right knee disability, and right knee instability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board remand directives.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted service connection. Service connection for left rotator cuff tendonitis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and left lateral collateral ligament sprain are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 C.F.R. § 1114(s) was denied because the AOJ did not consider his diabetes mellitus and its associated complications as a single disability, despite having a combined rating of 100%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted.,The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric disability (depressive disorder), esophageal dysmotility, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. His diabetes mellitus, type II with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy of the left eye, peripheral neuropathy affecting multiple extremities, and diabetic chronic kidney disease are all granted or remanded as appropriate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, diabetic neuropathy of the left arm, diabetic neuropathy of the left leg, diabetic neuropathy of the right arm, diabetic neuropathy of the right leg, and hypertension as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.