Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for direct service connection for diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions, including as due to herbicide exposure. The decision found that his diabetes did not have its onset during active service or within one year thereafter, and it is not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to possible exposure to contaminated soil and ground water in Guam, which may have affected the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military noise exposure. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities was withdrawn by the Veteran during the July 2015 hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's systemic lupus is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and peripheral neuropathy are related to his service, with doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neuropathy of the toes is a residual of his in-service frostbite injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected orthopedic manifestations of mechanical low back strain and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied. His claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for medical examinations to address his claims of service connection for various conditions. The issues remain in a state of pending resolution.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been granted. However, his claim for service connection for an abdominal hernia has not been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, has been granted. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence of record to decide whether a TDIU is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for neurological disability manifested by numbness, to include polyneuropathy, claimed as due to cold weather exposure. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional evidence pertinent to his claim.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are rated at 10% each from June 19, 2007 to February 20, 2013. The rating is granted for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as further development is needed to assess the combined effects of all service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to attempt to obtain private treatment records. The claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are pending.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum or new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is not considered to be due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The Board found that the treatment provided by VA was within the standard of care.