Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for a heart disorder and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's heart disorder may potentially relate to herbicide exposure, but this needs to be confirmed through additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the conditions. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is presumed, but not basal cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for a left ankle disability. The Veteran is required to submit statements of the case (SOC) for some claims and must be given an opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to potential exposure to contaminated water and other hazardous materials during service. The VA will verify this exposure and obtain an etiological opinion regarding the relationship between these exposures and the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, have been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence is sufficient to grant service connection for these conditions due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and effective dates for various disabilities, including neck disability, change in color in the hands, headaches, weakness in the arm and numbness in the fingers, penetrating muscle injury, left chest, painful surgical scar, left chest, surgical scar, left chest, peripheral neuropathy, chest wall, rib fractures, status-post thoracotomy, hypertension. The issues include seeking initial ratings for certain disabilities and obtaining effective dates for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment from January 5, 2011, to May 2, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right hand neuropathy, left hand neuropathy, right lower leg neuropathy, and left lower leg neuropathy as they are not shown to be related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and remanded the issues regarding service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, TDIU. The Veteran's claim for service connection is not supported by evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a prostate disorder was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim. Appeals for other conditions were denied as untimely.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cervical spine, wrist, hip, knee, skin condition, Gulf War syndrome, and PTSD. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his treatment and stressors during service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his neck injury, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and for a pulmonary condition as secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are granted a rating of 40 percent each, effective as of the date of decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed related to his exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand. The Board granted service connection for this condition.