Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about a VHA expert's opinion on whether the Veteran's right breast cancer is related to exposure to Agent Orange. The issues of secondary service connection for various conditions are also being remanded as they are intertwined with the primary claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and additional SMC were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2 or additional SMC due to erectile dysfunction. For right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, a 30 percent rating was granted since July 25, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for purposes of adjudicating the Veteran's claims on appeal and remands them for further development. The issues include service connection for spinal nerve degeneration with pain and numbness, back condition and degenerative arthritis of the spine; dermatitis or eczema and onychomycosis of the toenails; and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spondylosis and discogenic disease due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, arthritis of various joints, constipation and neuropathy of the lower extremities, and SMC due to unresolved issues in the medical opinions provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence showing the condition manifested within a year of herbicide exposure or being otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 40 percent and no higher.,Diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent and no higher.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and his associated peripheral neuropathy of the right shoulder is rated at 40 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatitis on the right and left legs, and scar formation of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was granted service connection.,Service connection was also granted for prostate cancer, diabetic retinopathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded these claims for further action, including determining if the surviving spouse can substitute as the claimant.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, but denied tinnitus. The issues regarding neuropathy of the lower extremities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking evidence about the Veteran's part-time work as an auctioneer and determining whether it qualifies as marginal employment. The VA examinations are also needed to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Veteran's prolonged unauthorized absence, thus finding that his character of discharge from service for the period from October 1965 to March 1973 does not constitute a statutory or regulatory bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding no link to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted from February 20, 2019 to September 15, 2019. The TDIU claim prior to September 16, 2019 was denied.

The Veteran's diabetes-related nerve damage in his lower extremities and left upper extremity has been rated at 20 percent, while his right upper extremity is rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and left upper extremity have all received increased disability ratings to reflect their severity.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 19, 2020 has been granted.

The Veteran is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to the effective loss of use of one or both feet caused by his service-connected disabilities.