Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, bladder cancer, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and urinary incontinence due to herbicide agent exposure during service.,Service connection is established on a presumptive basis as the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand.

The Veteran's appeals for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for diabetic nephrosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, type II, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been dismissed. The Veteran also requested to withdraw his appeal for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and earlier effective dates was granted, with a 30 percent rating assigned for carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity and ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity since October 28, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have all been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is rated at 30 percent effective February 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence on whether the Veteran had a low back disorder that pre-existed his service, and because the July 2016 VA examiner failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements of in-service back pain and continuity of back pain since service.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, sacroiliitis, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence are remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's gout, ear condition (described as constant pressure), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity are all denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions have not been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, psoriasis and seborrhea (claimed as skin condition), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to a lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure or medical records.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right forearm, muscle group VII.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there is not a 50 percent or greater probability that the Veteran's delayed-onset peripheral neuropathy was causally related to his active military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

All claims for service connection are denied except for the grant of service connection for headaches, which is granted. The Veteran's enlarged prostate and neurobehavioral effects are not found to be related to his military service. His sleep apnea claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 4, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for reexamination to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated erectile dysfunction, as well as his peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities, are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, back disability, head injury with residual headaches and dizziness, sleep apnea, neuropathy, chronic pain disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or related to military service.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and granted all requested benefits, including a 100% evaluation for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and initial evaluations greater than 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy in multiple extremities. The total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability prior to April 1, 2011, is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hand fracture and left foot plantar fasciitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's heart attack treatment at Bryan Medical Center was eligible for VA reimbursement as it occurred during an emergency and prior authorization was granted within 72 hours of admission.