Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident residuals, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA examinations and review of outpatient records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a complete list of his post-service employment history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and opinion regarding his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder, hypertension, mini-strokes, and peripheral neuropathy. The gastric disability claim was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling since February 16, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and possibly a new examination, as the current records may not provide sufficient information for a clear determination of service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her combined service-connected disabilities, which include migraines, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, thoracolumbar levoscoliosis and herniated nucleus pulposus, hypertension, coccyx neuropathy, and a scar. The Board finds that she meets the criteria for a TDIU based on her combined service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his back condition and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and ED which are related to his now service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service. The remaining issues have been referred for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any further development as required.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for callosities of both feet is being remanded due to the need for a new examination. Additionally, service connection claims for various foot conditions are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy and finds that her symptoms are more likely related to a non-service-connected back disability, thus denying service connection for peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's PVD and peripheral neuropathy did not begin during service or due to in-service exposure, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded for additional development.