Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of a stroke is granted. Ratings are granted for instability and arthritis in the right knee, as well as increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran also receives TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's left and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as well as his left and right lower sciatic nerve and femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathies have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each from the effective dates specified.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy on a secondary basis as it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence of exposure or a direct link to service. The claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is remanded as there may have been a material change in the disability since the last examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and its associated neuropathies due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents in service, and because the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent from May 9, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of urinary incontinence, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his non-service-connected back disability prevents him from working in sedentary positions.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, gastritis, frostbite of the fingertips and toes, and diabetic neuropathy. The appeals are now pending with the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, secondary to service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to treatment he received for his service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the cause of death is unclear. The Board has remanded for further medical evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional medical evidence is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy prior to December 22, 2009. The examiner should review and discuss pertinent treatment records from June 2003 to December 22, 2009.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to Agent Orange exposure; service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity; and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with his claim for diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand them due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for several issues, including reopening a previously denied asthma claim and increasing disability ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to insufficient information about the Veteran's employment history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examination for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.