Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy of all radicular groups is granted a 70 percent rating, effective April 29, 2019. The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy of all radicular groups is granted a 60 percent rating, effective April 29, 2019. The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the internal tibial nerve and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the internal tibial nerve are each granted a 30 percent rating, effective April 29, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU was restored effective August 1, 2020. The VA also granted reinstatement of basic eligibility for education benefits under DEA due to the restoration of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and identifying specific in-service exposure.

The Board has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC benefits to be legally inadequate and remands the case for a new medical determination regarding personal care services, supervision or protection needs, and regular or extensive instruction or supervision.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance are being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a diagnosed BUE condition, to include peripheral and idiopathic neuropathy, that may be related to his period of service, including as due to herbicide exposure. However, further examination is needed to determine if this relationship exists.

The Board denied service connection for soft tissue sarcoma, dengue fever, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for memory loss, heart condition, TBI residuals, and various nerve conditions have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for upper extremity nerves and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lower extremity neuropathy as it is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as his left and right lower extremities, were denied increased ratings due to symptoms not warranting higher evaluations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypothyroidism, infertility, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The AOJ previously denied these claims due to lack of verified herbicide exposure. The Board finds new evidence submitted since previous decisions is relevant and sufficient to permit readjudication. However, additional remand is required to verify the Veteran's reported in-service exposure to various hazardous materials at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from July 1, 2018, except for the period when he was in receipt of a combined 100 percent schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. Effective dates of December 18, 2017, but not earlier, have also been established for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Guam, as the evidence supports a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's left ulnar and radial neuropathy is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Board has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC benefits to be legally inadequate and remands the case for a new medical determination regarding personal care services, supervision or protection needs, and regular or extensive instruction or supervision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors regarding service connection for congestive heart failure and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's lay claims of herbicide exposure are insufficient to trigger VA examination, but he did claim exposure to sea water as a drinking source during service.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) is granted, and the case is remanded for further examination on cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II, with bilateral cataracts and right eye retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hemorrhoids, are being remanded for additional development to determine their current severity.