Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues are related as they both involve peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left forearm conditions, as well as an increased rating for the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran now receives a 10 percent evaluation for his left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and thus cannot be granted service connection based on direct service connection. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II, were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to a need for clarification and further examination.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is not entitled to an increased rate of DIC because he was not in receipt of, nor was he entitled to receive, compensation for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for at least eight years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and neuropathy, have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including the issue of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability between August 25, 2009 and June 2, 2010.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement or payment for the costs of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a period of hospitalization from March 14 to March 20, 2012, at McLaren Lapeer Regional Medical Center due to a medical emergency involving a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for a bilateral foot disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report and need for additional development.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is as likely as not related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The rating assigned for the service-connected lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment as of December 11, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his requests for earlier effective dates for service connection for diabetes mellitus and TDIU have been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed these issues due to lack of evidence supporting earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are etiologically related to his in-service herbicide exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions.