Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, lumbar strain, and tinnitus are all dismissed as they were granted with a final effective date of December 1, 2015.,The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure is denied because new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions are denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury.,Service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, diabetic retinopathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II are also denied due to lack of service-connected primary disability.,The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown as chronic in service or within a year following separation from service. The Board finds no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the VA examiner opined that there is no link between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities were initially rated at 10 percent under the criteria in Diagnostic Code 8520 for mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves. The Board found that, for the initial rating period from June 24, 2014 to January 26, 2015, the service-connected right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities were manifested by moderate constant pain, moderate intermittent pain, severe paresthesias and/or dysesthesias, moderate numbness, decreased sensation in the feet, mild incomplete paralysis in the sciatic nerves, and difficulty walking and climbing stairs, which more nearly approximates moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves. For these reasons, a rating of 20 percent for these service-connected neuropathies was granted.,For the initial rating period from January 26, 2015 to the present, the Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's right-hand disability is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed all service connection and increased rating claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth due to Hodgkin’s disease is denied. The right shoulder degenerative joint disease with impingement syndrome is granted a 40% evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous directives and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left arm neuropathy (minor) associated with left rotator cuff syndrome was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating and remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU was granted, but the amount of past-due benefits awarded to his attorney is disputed. The Board has ordered a complete audit to determine if the Appellant received the correct amount of attorney fees.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition, bilateral lumbar neuropathy sciatic nerve condition as secondary to his back condition, right hip degenerative joint disease, and left hip degenerative joint disease. The decision is based on medical evidence that supports a finding of in-service injury and current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower right extremity is denied. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper right extremity is remanded.

The Board has found the VA examinations and opinions to be inadequate due to their failure to address the Veteran's self-reported history of symptoms. The claims are being remanded for a new examination by an examiner who must consider the Veteran’s self-reported history and provide a rationale based on this information.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's other claimed conditions are secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, including addendum medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes, gout, kidney disorder, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and eye disorder.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, left knee replacement, right knee patella fracture, DDD lumbar spine with anteriololisthesis, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and tinnitus.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied as it was not submitted within one year after separation from service. The Veteran's claim was filed on October 18, 2010.,The Veteran’s evaluation for a lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent and needs to be remanded due to insufficient range of motion findings in the previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his asthma and sinus disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded TDIU beginning December 1, 2019, and SMC effective December 1, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents as his appeal is no longer before the Board because he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, poor circulation, chronic infections, Bell's Palsy, Dupuytren’s Contracture, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, a skin disorder, and plantar fasciitis, all claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations.