Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of frostbite to his bilateral lower extremities and secondary peripheral neuropathy. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits were discontinued effective October 30, 2002 due to his fugitive felon status. The benefits were reinstated on April 30, 2012 after the warrant was cleared. An earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective from March 15, 2013, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease and associated peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities have been rated as appropriate, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran's lower extremity symptoms are also appropriately rated.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to herbicide exposure, are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of increased initial ratings for coronary artery disease, prior to April 18, 2017; diabetes mellitus, type II; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease, left ankle disability, neuropathy of the right foot, neuropathy of the left hand, neuropathy of the right hand, and neuropathy of the left foot are all denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy has been denied because the evidence does not show a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy attributable to service. The Board found that there was not substantial compliance with the requirements articulated in the prior remand decisions and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's right leg peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent since March 1, 2015. The condition more closely approximates moderate incomplete paralysis of the popliteal nerve.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to August 7, 2015, and 40 percent thereafter. His peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen it. The issue of peripheral neuropathy was intertwined with the diabetes mellitus issue.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus type II, CAD, and soft tissue sarcomas of the lung and right upper extremity/right shoulder are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran also has chronic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy that are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD, headaches, psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, brittle nails, and syphilis are not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 7, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and service connection for sinusitis, low back disorder, neuropathy of the hands and feet, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The VA examinations indicated that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.