Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including tremor and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet. The issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right calf muscle injury, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted increased ratings of 30 percent each, effective from July 18, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents during his period of service, which is required to decide these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, reopening the claims for service connection for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.,Service connection is granted for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA medical records and a need to reconsider whether he served in Vietnam, which could affect his eligibility for Agent Orange exposure presumptions. The claims will be returned to the RO for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for left knee disability prior to January 6, 2011 has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including IVDS, DDD, and lumbosacral strain with neuropathy of the right sciatic nerve, has been reopened. The Board found that new evidence submitted since the last final denial supports reopening the claim but does not establish service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition is dismissed as he withdrew the claim. The case remains on remand for other issues.,The Veteran’s scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine disability does not warrant a higher rating due to its current level of impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since December 31, 2008. The Board granted TDIU effective November 9, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes as due to Agent Orange exposure, hypertension as secondary to diabetes and as due to Agent Orange exposure, and bilateral neuropathy of the feet as due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision also grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including diabetic nephropathy and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 16, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, delusional disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and various other conditions are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, enteropathy, polyuria, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board has also dismissed his appeal for a TDIU due to the assignment of a 100% schedular rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations. The claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbar strain, initial increased rating for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and TDIU are all pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and peripheral neuropathy have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 1, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or the contaminated water exposure.