Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and depression as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claims are being remanded due to the need for medical nexus opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's increased ratings for lumbar disc disease, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction have been denied.,A TDIU has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of narcolepsy and remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, hypertension, hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate gland, thyroid dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded three claims: hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities. The Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy may be related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a stomach disability (formerly claimed as gastritis), to include as due to exposure to contaminated water while stationed at Camp Lejeune, is dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including an evaluation for the Veteran's low back disability and severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current peripheral neuropathy or kidney disorder, and diabetes was rated at 20%.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions, including frost bite of the lower and upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neuropathy. The decision is due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both feet due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his service aboard the USS Buchanan. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of recent evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar stenosis and degenerative disc disease, but the case is remanded for further examination to determine if the Veteran's lower extremity neurological disturbances are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for a back disability, variously claimed as spondylosis multilevel of the lumbar spine and as a lower back injury, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension, or PTSD. Service connection was also denied for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder, a chronic disability manifested by numbness in the legs (peripheral neuropathy), and a right knee disorder.,Further investigation and determination are needed to resolve these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to ambiguity in the record regarding whether the Veteran's post-operative neuropathy is an additional disability resulting from VA medical care. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is any additional disability and its cause.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of recent medical examination for assessing the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy has not been rated appropriately, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD and granted TDIU benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 9, 2016, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. The rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity; ratings in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity prior to March 21, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter; and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine.