Peripheral neuropathy — all decisions

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities (both femoral and sciatic nerves) but remanded claims for an increased rating for transient ischemic attack and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and cataracts, as due to exposure to herbicide agents, prior to August 10, 2022, for further development.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and a 40 percent rating for the left, as well as special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities, hypothyroidism, and dermatitis (claimed as chloracne) based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity motor and sensory axonal polyneuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a right shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, left and right lower extremity neuropathy, and a bilateral foot disability as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a finding that an adequate VA medical opinion was not obtained.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to new and relevant evidence having been received.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, and initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities due to missing records from MS Medical Group.

The appeal was dismissed due to a procedural defect related to the submission of the Notice of Disagreement by the Claimant prior to approval of her request for substitution as claimant following the Veteran's death.

The Board remands the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings to cure a pre-decisional duty to assist error related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right eye dry eyes, cataracts of the left and right eyes, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left renal arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, recurrent subluxation of the left knee prior to May 13, 2020, left total knee replacement, disability rating in excess of 60 percent from September 1, 2021, forward for left total knee replacement, DJD of the right knee, right knee instability, burns of the bilateral ankles, linear scar of the left knee, post-surgical tender scars of the left knee, and a total disability rating due to unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disabilities prior to June 14, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for sleep apnea, left ankle scar, painful left ankle scar, acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder), left foot metatarsalgia, and right knee limitation of flexion. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left foot neuropathy and 20 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria, effective March 24, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition, as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the criteria for an increased rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings on all claims due to untimely Notices of Disagreement.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy and painful scars of the right hand and arm, as the evidence did not support an earlier claim.