Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and neurological symptoms.

The Board has denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, infertility, porphyria cutanea tarda, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as these conditions are not related to service or any incident of active duty service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Raynaud's phenomenon, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the May 2012 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was reopened and granted.,An effective date prior to May 31, 2017, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for ischemic optic neuropathy is being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its related peripheral neuropathies as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's claims were also denied on secondary basis due to lack of service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for folliculitis and service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities have been denied. The Board found that folliculitis required topical therapy only, not systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs, precluding a higher rating. For the second issue, there is no objective evidence of peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle sprain, left plantar neuropathy, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted. The claim for right shoulder tendonitis has resulted in a 20 percent evaluation prior to April 23, 2012, and the issue is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and special benefits are being remanded due to the need for further examinations and evaluations. The issues include diabetes mellitus, its associated peripheral neuropathies and vascular disease, liver cirrhosis or hepatitis C, hypertension secondary to diabetes, PTSD, and homebound status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and his left leg neurological disorders. A new examination is needed to clarify these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not received before May 7, 2010 for PTSD, June 23, 2010 for bilateral hearing loss, and June 23, 2010 for tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities based on new evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents in service.,Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), as it is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence of penile deformity or significant impairment in muscle atrophy, reflexes, or sensation that would warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for diabetes mellitus and his right and left lower extremity disorders are unrelated to service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) during the relevant appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and quadriplegia from a back injury, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because there is no evidence showing the condition began during service, and the one-year presumptive period has expired. The Veteran's claim based on ischemic heart disease as a pre-condition also fails.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not granted service connection due to lack of in-service onset or relationship to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction) is denied because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.