Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, diabetes mellitus, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began in or were aggravated by service.,Service connection was also denied as the Veteran's OSA is not related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions and the need for an independent medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's right breast cancer. The issues are now pending further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for various disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, left and right sciatic neuropathy, right shoulder disability, right knee limitation of motion, left knee limitation of motion, and left knee instability. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are being remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left upper extremity neuropathy due to additional medical inquiry. The Veteran underwent VA examination in August 2022, which found no right upper extremity neuropathy disorder but found such a disorder on the left likely unrelated to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the medical opinion found that his condition was not related to service.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity was also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to service in Vietnam. Service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, psoriasis, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA audiometric records.

The Board has remanded four separate claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet due to outstanding VA treatment records that have not been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's initial rating for left elbow epicondylitis with status post fracture is granted at a 10 percent level, effective from January 17, 2020. The Veteran's increased rating for left ulnar neuropathy prior to January 17, 2020 and since that date are also granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of August 7, 2017. His eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted as of this date.

The Veteran's neuropathy, both in the upper and lower extremities, is remanded for further evaluation due to a lack of a VA examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for corrective action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease and diabetic neuropathy resulted in the functional loss of use of both hands and feet, necessitating higher levels of special monthly compensation (SMC) effective May 17, 2016.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.,Service connection for diabetes and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies is granted with an effective date of June 29, 2006. The Veteran also received a grant on DEA benefits with the same effective date.,The initial disability ratings for various conditions are being remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's type I diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,Prior to August 12, 2015, the Veteran's bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy with retinal bleed and pseudophakia was rated at 30 percent. From August 12, 2015, it has been rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy with retinal bleed and pseudophakia is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 22, 2020 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran had some capacity for substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected conditions.