Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeals for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus with cataracts and retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, have rendered him unable to work since January 1, 2012. Effective November 21, 2012, the Veteran has been found in need of regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The rash claim is remanded.,Service connection has not been established for irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy (presumptive due to Agent Orange exposure), or rash (secondary to herbicide agent exposure).

The Board denied service connection for right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as well as asthma, Bell's palsy, and myelitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to the Veteran's military service.,There was no medical documentation of any of these conditions during service, nor did they develop within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy, left and right foot fractures with metatarsalgia were granted effective from February 9, 2016. The Veteran is now rated at the maximum disability rating (40%) for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including evaluations and opinions regarding the Veteran's TBI, psychiatric disorders, ischemic heart disease, hearing loss, respiratory disorder, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and vertigo.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was granted initial evaluations prior to March 28, 2015. The case is remanded for further development including a VA examination and consideration of increased ratings from January 12, 2012, to March 28, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of bilateral feet neuropathy secondary to a service-connected left knee disorder is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, effective June 18, 2009. The Veteran's benign prostate hypertrophy is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and a separate evaluation for bowel impairment is denied.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those for bilateral hearing loss, bladder cancer, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and lumbar spine disability. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for right ulnar neuropathy due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's service connection claim is granted for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but his claim for neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, heart disorder, BPH, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical muscle spasm, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hip degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD, right ankle condition, vision disability (glaucoma and cataracts), and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has dismissed appeals for initial ratings and effective dates related to depression, anxiety, and a low back disability. The remaining issues of increased ratings for the low back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right radial nerve impairments, finding that these conditions are proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate opinions in the January 2020 VA examiner's reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions as secondary to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's stroke is rated at 10 percent since March 20, 2008.,Upper extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent prior to January 7, 2021, and 40 percent thereafter; lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 10 percent prior to January 7, 2021, and 30 percent thereafter.,Femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities is rated at 10 percent since January 7, 2021.,The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 40 percent since January 7, 2021; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 30 percent since January 7, 2021; and right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 40 percent prior to January 7, 2021.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy is now rated at 60 percent from January 7, 2021, and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy is also rated at 60 percent since that date.,Right lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy has been rated as non-compensable prior to January 1, 2021; left lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy has not yet received a rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower left extremity disability and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's pre-existing left leg laceration was not aggravated during service, and he did not have any other left leg disabilities that were service connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been dismissed as these issues have been granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have also been dismissed as these issues have been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for urination/voiding dysfunction and hypertension have also been remanded.