Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremity.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 100%, but the Board finds that he has not been unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as evidenced by his continued employment and participation in vocational rehabilitation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, likely PTSD, was granted. Service connection for tinnitus and hypertension were also granted. However, the claims for a cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and other conditions remain denied due to lack of new material evidence.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on new and material evidence is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (HTN) based on new and material evidence is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 28, 2013, for grant of service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 28, 2013, for grant of service connection for right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to pending matters regarding his character of discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was a principal or contributory cause of his death, and whether severe peripheral neuropathy contributed to death. The appellant must provide additional private treatment records or allow VA to obtain such records on her behalf.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and a right eye disability are all granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy disabilities are reasonably shown to prevent him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and anemia, finding that these conditions are not related to his service-connected acute intermittent porphyria (AIP).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities left him in need of regular aid and attendance from October 31, 2013 to September 9, 2016. The Board found that the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance were met during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective date for TDIU due to missing VA treatment records and incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity are both rated at 20 percent, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The same applies to his right lower extremity.,Prior to October 9, 2012, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 was rated at 20 percent and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as these conditions are presumed due to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been granted effective August 17, 2016. Higher ratings are denied for the period before October 11, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further development regarding his eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic neuropathy of all four extremities have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand, right hand, left foot, and right foot peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide agent exposure (Agent Orange). The decision is based on the presumption of service connection provided by law.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities as there was no evidence linking the condition to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.