Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right foot arthritis and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection. The Veteran's scalp disability remains under review.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for a supplemental examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's neuropathy is caused or aggravated by his service-connected dermatophytosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including consideration of service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The decision regarding bilateral upper extremity neuropathy remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; ischemic heart disease; bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy; and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not support a relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.,Service connection cannot be granted based on herbicide exposure, as there is no credible evidence that he was exposed to such agents during his service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a left leg disorder, low back strain, sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The remands are due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for diabetes, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board denied claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including dizziness/somatization disorder and diabetes mellitus type II, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effects of these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not service-connected as it is believed to be due to his own drug abuse after service.,Diabetic retinopathy and diabetes mellitus were not diagnosed during the time of the Veteran's death, and thus cannot be service-connected.,Chloracne was found to have been incurred in service based on its recurrence post-service.,Peripheral neuropathy was not service-connected as it is believed to be due to Agent Orange exposure, but there is no evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's need for aid and attendance from another person could not be established.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the service connection claims, as well as for rating decisions on diabetes and related neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's cold injury residuals and their relation to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and denied the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left foot and right foot. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is advised to provide updated medical records from various VA facilities and complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any private providers who have treated his disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent since September 22, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent disability evaluation, effective from April 29, 2016. All other service-connected conditions remain unchanged.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for low back disorder, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The cervical spine disorder claim is also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the original rating decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and denied claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, colon cancer, and mass on the liver. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension, which includes diabetic peripheral neuropathy as part of his diabetes mellitus, should be remanded to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.