Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches with photophobia and aura, back disability, Raynaud’s disease, right lower extremity neuropathy or restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity neuropathy or restless leg syndrome, thyroid disability, and abnormal weight fluctuation.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, sleep disability, and skin disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records, and a new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection due to herbicide agent exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The heart condition appeal has been dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, sleep disability, chest disability, diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to herbicide exposure), TBI, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy have all been denied. The dental condition claim has also been referred for adjudication.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and an increased rating for left ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The claims are being reviewed again as part of a de novo process.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, attributing the condition to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his time in service.

The Board has determined that additional VA medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot pain, as well as lower right and left peripheral neuropathy, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its secondary conditions due to in-service exposure at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's service records show she was stationed there from November 1969 to April 1970. Further development is needed to assess her exposure to environmental contaminants and herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 31, 2011. His TDIU is granted from that date.

The Veteran is granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective March 17, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to be the primary cause of his diagnosed peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological foot disability and schizoaffective disorder was reopened, and both conditions were granted as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for ED, BHL, tinnitus, OSA, and depression are reopened. The Board has remanded several issues including increased ratings and effective dates. Service connection is granted for OSA but denied for BHL and tinnitus. Depression is service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected large B cell lymphoma.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered additional medical examination to determine if he should be rated higher due to complications such as retinopathy in his right eye and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was reopened due to new and material evidence. However, the Board denied both his claims for service connection for a back disorder and right lower extremity neuropathy as they were not related to his in-service injuries or service-connected conditions.