Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and related conditions have been rated at a 70 percent disability level since December 22, 2008. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from December 15, 2005, to December 22, 2008, and on a schedular basis thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, effective December 23, 2014. The decision is based on retroactive benefits under the Blue Water Navy Act due to the Veteran's status as a Blue Water Navy Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, along with his diabetes mellitus type II, have made it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected spinal disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to walk independently, perform daily activities, and transfer safely. He is therefore granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of hypertension. The diagnoses of type 2 diabetes mellitus and heart problems are presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal was denied because he did not timely file a valid Notice of Disagreement or Higher-Level Review request within one year of the February 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a respiratory disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The Veteran's right and left upper extremities disabilities, including tendonitis, are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to herbicide exposure or any other service-connected conditions. Similarly, his right and left lower extremities neuropathy is also being evaluated for a possible link to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to a lack of evidence showing he is bedridden or in need of regular aid and assistance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetic neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran has not been granted service connection for diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between his active duty service and the disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for loss of use of the right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot as secondary to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,The Veteran's claim was not granted because there is no separate diagnosis of a hand or foot disorder distinct from his already service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bladder cancer was rated at 100% from October 15, 2018 through September 30, 2020. Additionally, the Veteran's service-connected diabetes and diabetic neuropathy were combined to result in a 70% rating during this period, meeting the criteria for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the 's' rate.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided prior to the April 2021 rating decision were inadequate due to a lack of supporting rationale for their conclusions. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy symptoms, including those in his upper and lower extremities, began before he started chemotherapy treatment for cancer, but the VA examiners concluded that the diabetes mellitus type II was not the cause or aggravation of these symptoms. The Board finds remand necessary to correct this error.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's service records indicate he was stationed on the U.S.S. Colahan, which may have placed him within the territorial seas of Vietnam where Agent Orange was used.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as the effective date of his award must be reconsidered due to a change in the applicable regulations.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected degenerative cervical spine spondylosis and disc space narrowing, as well as right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.