Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes and peripheral neuropathy disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta due to VA's carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill in prescribing Atenolol.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2009, through April 5, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

Your claims for arthritis of the left and right hands, as well as your lower and upper back conditions have been granted. However, your knee and kidney condition claims are being remanded.,Your peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as your upper extremities, have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of fracture of left leg, claimed as left leg fracture is denied due to lack of current residuals.,The Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. The decision is based on the presumption of herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's ratings for his service-connected knee and polyneuropathy disabilities have been reduced, but the Board finds that these reductions were not proper due to a failure to consider all applicable regulations.,The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his service-connected knee and polyneuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthrosis have been manifested by flexion of 70 degrees or greater, and extension to 10 degrees or less. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent rating for each of her left and right knees due to osteoarthritis under DC 5261.,The criteria for entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability have not been met. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as hearing loss in both ears, and sleep apnea (OSA) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy with anemia, a compensable rating for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis prior to January 4, 2021, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran was diagnosed with bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or is related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for right upper extremity neuropathy of the median nerve was denied, and he is still receiving a 50 percent rating. The Veteran also received a compensable rating (10%) for his scar secondary to the service-connected disability of right upper extremity neuropathy of the median nerve.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to service connection issues. Additional medical opinions are needed to address the onset and relationship of these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for various disability ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated at less than 60% combined and there is no sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70%. The Board finds that the Veteran has not been prevented from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, but he was not in need of nursing home care or permanent housebound status. He is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance by another.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, attributing it to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the onset and relationship of these conditions to his military service.