Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of fractured right foot and granted it. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right lateral plantar neuropathy is being remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his alleged herbicide agent exposure while serving in Thailand. The issues of service connection for depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are also being remanded as they are secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, sleep impairment, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition for which service connection could be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, skin rash on elbows and upper arm, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are not related to his military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's chronic venous insufficiency of the left lower extremity is proximately due to his service-connected residuals of coronary artery disease requiring bypass grafting and saphenous vein removal, and therefore, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, GERD, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are granted. The initial ratings for GERD and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity remain unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gastroparesis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with tinea pedis, hypertension, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple sclerosis is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of peripheral sensory neuropathy remains pending as it does not involve a presumption based on exposure to herbicides or other chemicals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is denied. The low back disability has been rated at 20 percent, and the right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has also been rated at 20 percent. The psychiatric disability has been rated at 50 percent. TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral shoulder peripheral neuropathy are not service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral pterygium is denied as there is no evidence of visual impairment, conjunctivitis, or scarring that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and skin disorder are all found to be related to his service in Vietnam, including exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bladder condition and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, loss of muscle of right arm and/or peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, loss of immune system, and blood disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and aortic stenosis were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), residuals of a left arm injury with history of cubital tunnel (left arm injury), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and tinea cruris were all service connected. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, right and left foot disabilities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected knee strains. The Veteran's current hip and foot conditions are not considered service connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, and that there was no current diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy or diabetic nephropathy.