Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of an examination. The Veteran asserts that his current conditions are related to in-service athlete's foot or prolonged exposure to cold/wetness.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left ulnar neuropathy and service connection for a left knee disorder have been dismissed.,An effective date earlier than June 24, 2013, for the award of service connection for left ulnar neuropathy has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various service-connected conditions, including a higher rating for posterior fossa tumor ependymoma and left wrist neuropathy, as well as claims for earlier effective dates. The AOJ has remanded several of these issues due to procedural errors.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran's service in the territorial waters of Vietnam was within 12 nautical miles of the shore.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypogeusia, and numbness/pain in his upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected Hodgkin's disease. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have not been fully developed, as requested VA examinations were not conducted. The case is being remanded to schedule these exams.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for blurred vision, vertigo, and neuropathy (including as secondary to a tumor of the right pelvic bone) are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA is required to provide new examinations that address the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and cataracts.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are all granted. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. His claim for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities due to a lack of clarity in the prior findings and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable was October 9, 2009, but did not find any evidence of peripheral neuropathy prior to March 13, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities due to a conflict in the evidence regarding whether he currently has this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a prostate condition has been withdrawn. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type 2, and the claims of left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's need for the aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities was established as of November 8, 2019. The effective date for SMC based on this need is set at that time.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.,Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits prior to December 9, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee impairment (instability) prior to September 21, 2015 is rated at 10 percent and not higher.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy/tremors, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy/tremors, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/tremors is remanded due to outstanding medical records and further evaluation being necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right knee disability have been shown to cause his radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, which is now granted. Additionally, his acquired psychiatric disorder has also been found to be caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and neurological disabilities of the lower extremities. The claims are being returned for further development.