Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sensory neuropathy of the right ulnar nerve, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 31, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case to obtain updated medical records and schedule him for VA examinations. The claim will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for adjudication in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were denied. The Board found that there was no credible evidence to support the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors related to PTSD, and the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have exposure to herbicides. As a result, service connection could not be established for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death. The issue of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and/or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's hypertension is service connected as a result of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating for folliculitis from January 18, 2011 to January 18, 2012. Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities were denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum to a previous VA examination and scheduling a new VA examination if necessary. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II caused or aggravated his bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected status post myocardial infarction is currently rated at 100 percent, effective August 30, 2013. The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for this condition prior to that date.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of the issues on appeal, including service connection, rating, and TDIU issues.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremity is being remanded due to a lack of information required by the JSRRC to verify herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining the deck logs of the USS Walke during the identified periods.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of medical records, including results from visual field testing conducted in October 2015.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing his appeals for service connection on all issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected ulnar nerve neuropathy and thigh numbness.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective as of his retirement in 2008 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture, warranting no extraschedular rating.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further verification of the appellant's service records and development of his claims, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to address the Veteran's hypertension, heart condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and TDIU claims. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.