Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Board has received notification of the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal, and therefore, the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing via live videoconference at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD, anal fissure, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, right ankle laxity, inguinal hernia repair residuals, left ear scar, groin scar, and erectile dysfunction, collectively preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and transient ischemic attacks and right middle cerebral infarct, combine to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left elbow disability and associated ulnar neuropathy are currently rated at 10 percent, effective since January 2003. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his initial rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with DJD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding whether tubular adenoma of the colon is a residual of service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating issue and must be deferred.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy disabilities and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder were granted. However, the specific rating assigned was not provided in this decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The claims for peripheral neuropathy, skin cancer, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and hypertension, due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for VA examinations to address service connection claims and an updated hearing loss rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 40 percent for the entire rating period. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, effective from March 30, 2005.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is due to his service-connected conditions, including severe chronic back pain, spinal stenosis, fusion of the left elbow joint, unsteady gait, and coronary artery disease. However, some of these conditions are not directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC due to aid and attendance or a single disability rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. His peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also service-connected as secondary to his diabetes. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU.