Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is attributable to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, reopening the claim and finding that it was incurred in service. The other claims remain pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for renal insufficiency, aortic aneurism, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure, as well as peripheral artery disease and scars secondary to DMII.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's diabetes did not require regulation of activities to maintain glycemic control.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to incomplete and contradictory information in the file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable throughout the period under consideration, and a TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened. However, the Board finds that new evidence does not establish a link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional development of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis for diabetes mellitus type II or diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as his diabetes did not require regulation of activities and he had no evidence of complications.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities has been rated as 20 percent for each extremity throughout the period on appeal. The Board found that the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent were not met.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability and found that it meets the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction appeal was withdrawn prior to final decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no credible evidence of Agent Orange exposure, and the conditions claimed are not shown to be related to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and neurological disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and initial ratings for his lower extremity conditions have been denied. The Veteran also failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to December 29, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, finding that there is no competent evidence showing a causal relationship between the in-service cystectomy and the present peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure and/or diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the October 2011 rating decision which severed service connection for diabetes mellitus effective January 1, 2012 is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disorder, neuropathy and numbness of the left lower extremity, and right hip disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to March 24, 2013.