Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as whether these conditions are related or aggravated by each other.

The Veteran's hypertension and vision disorders are not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Both the VA examiner and the supplemental DBQ opinion concluded that the Veteran's hypertension was less likely than not caused by or related to his diabetes, and that any vision problems were not caused by or related to his diabetes.

The Board found that there is no credible medical evidence linking the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities to service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right arm and hand was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to his service-connected limitation of motion and scarring disabilities residual to an injury of the right wrist during service in 1977.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neurological disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and PAN, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his active duty service and these conditions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from February 7, 2008 to April 16, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Board found that he is unemployable as a result of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is not shown to be more than mild in severity prior to July 1, 2009 and no worse since then. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for his claimed upper extremity condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his need for adaptive equipment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the head and residuals to a left eye injury, finding no current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and right sciatic neuropathy have not met the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and an addendum opinion addressing the appellant's claims under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected based on in-service noise exposure and current bilateral tinnitus. The Board finds the evidence to be in equipoise regarding whether his acquired psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right foot disability are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 70 percent since April 10, 2007, and 90 percent since October 18, 2012. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and supplemental opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant, and as such, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as strained relationships, disturbances of mood and motivation, depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, chronic sleep impairment, impairment of short and long term memory, difficulty concentrating, suicidal ideation, periods of violence, and increased cognitive decline. The Board has determined that the criteria for a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD have been met or approximated.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen these claims. The Board also found no service connection for certain disabilities.