Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for a medical examination to determine if his left leg axonal neuropathy with atrophy and low back pain was caused by VA treatment, negligence, or an unforeseeable event.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder of the bilateral feet and secondary service connection for neuropathy of the right hand. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 7, 2016 for the service connection of various conditions including diabetes mellitus and its complications. The Veteran's original claim was filed on that date.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her active duty and National Guard service, particularly concerning ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA periods from 2003 to 2009. The appellant must provide verification of these periods and any related treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on having a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent plus a separate and distinct disability or disabilities ratable at 60 percent, prior to December 20, 2013, was denied. The Veteran's claim for total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service connected disabilities, beginning January 31, 2012, was granted with an effective date of January 31, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of performing his activities of daily living and require regular aid and assistance to protect him from hazards.

The Board has remanded the cases for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, left and right lower extremities, is related to service. The examiner should consider the Veteran's reported onset of symptoms and his presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disorder, right foot disorder (to include right foot tendonitis of the fibularis brevis), erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremities neuropathy, and right and left lower extremities radiculopathy.,No current diagnoses were found by VA examiners for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for further development and examination, including those related to degenerative arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, poor blood circulation, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, with diabetes mellitus contributing to the cause. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for lower extremity neuropathy and right upper extremity idiopathic neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from October 1, 2010 to June 24, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 22, 2008, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus (DM) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and low back disorder, along with other conditions, make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any ankle, knee, foot, or peripheral vascular disease. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for IHD was denied, and his diabetes with peripheral neuropathy was rated at 10% from March 17, 2010 to October 18, 2010, and then increased to 20% thereafter. A TDIU determination was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure (burn pit) and as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The case is being returned for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded for further examination.