Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims, including treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD. Secondary service connection was also granted for GERD. Other issues were remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and an opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities render her permanently and totally disabled.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric, onychomycosis, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA examiner's opinion on whether the Veteran’s neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is related to his service in Vietnam.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy was granted an increased rating of 20 percent effective August 22, 2016.,The Veteran's left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were not granted service connection prior to July 14, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy as it was not incurred or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is rated at a 40 percent since January 15, 2010. The Board found that this rating was appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, but granted an effective date of November 25, 1994 for coronary artery disease (previously claimed as irregular heartbeat).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for laceration of the left forearm with ulnar neuropathy is dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 9, 2011 for the grant of a TDIU rating as there was no evidence showing he was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities before that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine scoliosis, right arm neuropathy, left arm neuropathy, and left leg neuropathy. The PTSD claim is also being remanded due to a lack of proper examination during a flare-up.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hypertension, and disabilities manifesting in dizziness/syncope and burning in the chest due to exposure to JP-4 jet fuel during service. The issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and thus not meeting one of the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues are referred back to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ). The Veteran had multiple claims pending on appeal including service connection for various conditions.