Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a spine disability was granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, as well as diabetes mellitus and a right hand disability. The Veteran was not found to have current disabilities in these areas.,There is no evidence of record supporting the presence of any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA medical records and requests the Veteran to provide them. The claims for service connection will be remanded until these records are obtained.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service. The effective date for the 30% rating for two vessel CAD is set at November 15, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with associated peripheral neuropathy, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as radiculopathy) because the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg condition and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD). The decision found no current disability related to the Veteran's left leg, but remanded the PTSD claim due to unclear character of discharge from his second period of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA treatment providers.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's foot sensory disorder.

The Veteran's claims for psoriasis, arthritis, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were all denied as there is no current disability found in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection and related benefits, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The effective date assigned was July 20, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to his military service. The rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 6, 2013 for his service-connected right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The ratings for his PTSD and peripheral neuropathy have been established, with some adjustments based on when they began.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his VA treatment records.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, back disorder, asthma, and skin disorder on a presumptive basis due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include left lower extremity disability other than left knee torn medial meniscus with osteoarthritis and residuals of a tibia/fibula fracture, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder rated at 70 percent and other conditions rated at 20 percent combined to 90 percent, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with weakness and right knee flexion contracture are at least as likely as not due to his service-connected non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As a result, the Board has granted secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issues of increased ratings for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), and TDIU. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hemorrhoids are also being remanded.