Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and medical inquiry.,Increased ratings are sought for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, neuropathy in both lower extremities, and degenerative joint disease in both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus resulted in diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities. The Board granted separate ratings for the right and left lower extremities, with a 10 percent rating prior to October 5, 2019, and a 20 percent rating from that date onward.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted a restoration of the 40 percent rating.,Ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities have been granted at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The skin disability of the scalp claim was withdrawn, while bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were all granted. Increased ratings of 20 percent for both lower extremity peripheral neuropathies have been awarded.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the death of the appellant, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals at this time.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, PVD of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims were not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition or due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were not conducted as per the January 2019 remand instructions and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has not provided a full examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy conditions, specifically whether they are related to herbicide exposure or service-connected prostate cancer. The case is therefore remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathy due to potential herbicide exposure in Okinawa, Japan. The Veteran's service records indicate possible aircraft exposures but no definitive evidence of Agent Orange exposure. Further development is needed to verify these allegations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 28, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can secure and maintain such employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disability, specifically carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased ratings for diffuse sensorimotor neuropathy in both upper extremities prior to September 24, 2019 are being remanded.,For the right and left upper extremity diffuse sensorimotor neuropathy prior to September 24, 2019, the Veteran is rated at 20 percent. The issues of increased ratings for diffuse sensorimotor neuropathy in both lower extremities prior to June 22, 2017 are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for stroke, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to an in-service motor vehicle accident. The case requires clarification regarding the nature of a lacunar infarct found on MRI and its relation to the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there was no evidence of early-onset peripheral neuropathy within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded due to inadequate examination report. The Board finds that an additional remand is warranted as the July 2020 VA examiner’s opinion does not address whether the conditions are related to alcohol abuse disorder, which could provide secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as claimed due to herbicide agent exposure. The case is returned for further development and examination.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of appeal, including service connection for hypertension and thermoregulation associated with sarcoidosis due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional development regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of moderately-severe incomplete paralysis, which is required for a rating in excess of 20 percent.