Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy as there is no evidence of onset or exposure to herbicides during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to verify service dates and obtain relevant medical records, including private mental health records. The examiner will provide opinions on whether each condition is related to or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted, and his groin rash claim is reopened. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and osteoporosis are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, rectal cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities (secondary to rectal cancer), and a sleep disorder. The claim for coronary artery disease is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been reopened, but denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus with active service.,Service connection has been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, back disorder, and increased ratings for PTSD, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The effective dates for benefits were also determined to be incorrect or not applicable.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the entire period of appeal has been granted. The RO also denied service connection and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, but did not issue a statement of the case on these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for insomnia. The increased disability ratings for neuropathy of left and right lower extremities were denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated conditions are being remanded for additional development to obtain private treatment records from the Family Health Center of Fairfax.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have all been denied.,Service connection was also denied for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 30, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The appellant's failure to appear for VA examinations prevented a determination on these claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DDD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dermatitis, squamous cell skin cancer, CTS, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event supporting the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since February 6, 2006. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity as a neurologic abnormality secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board previously granted increased disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, but only up to 20 percent. The Court has ordered a remand due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity and extent of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew all of his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to assess the current severity of his disability. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on moderately severe incomplete paralysis.