Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and other conditions, based on presumed exposure to herbicides while serving in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date is set as August 31, 2010, which is when VA added ischemic heart disease (IHD) as a presumptive disability.

The Veteran's left lower extremity neurological disorder is rated at 20 percent from September 12, 2011 to April 4, 2014 and at 40 percent thereafter. The combined effect of his service-connected disabilities does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings due to lack of evidence supporting earlier effective dates or entitlement to the benefits sought.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor did they cause him to be housebound. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper and lower extremities. The Board finds he is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his service in Vietnam and thus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims for residuals of myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remain denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to active service.,The Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service at Korat RTAFB has not been conceded. The Board finds insufficient evidence of record to support the claim for service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, finding that his condition does not require regulation of activities as part of its management.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as sleep apnea, all secondary to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for soft tissue sarcoma is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are found to be aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and dementia are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's G6PD deficiency was aggravated during service, while his bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 or accrued benefits. The appellant is also ineligible for death pension as of September 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathies has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if his symptoms are related to his service-connected conditions or other factors.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper and lower extremities are not supported by the evidence. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current symptoms and active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance based on his service-connected disabilities.