Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities. The claim for TBI was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was submitted in January 2005. The effective date of the award of TDIU was set at December 24, 2008 because it found that the schedular requirements were first satisfied on that date. However, the Veteran argues that the schedular requirements have been met since his initial claim in January 2005.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back condition, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy due to deficiencies in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with additional opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service connection claims, including PTSD, chronic pain disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, residuals of traumatic brain injury (also claimed as head injury), neuropathy of right upper extremity, and sciatica of left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's current diagnosis and whether his neurological condition is related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with respect to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, but his claim for increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right wrist condition. The claims for reopening of service connection for arthritis of the left wrist and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus have been granted, but the cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet is denied as not related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a direct relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, respiratory disorder, and hypertension due to presumed herbicide exposure. The claims are also reopened.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need to determine if a VA physician performed the initial cervical spine surgery at a non-VA facility or if the non-VA facility meets the requirements to be considered a VA facility, and whether the Veteran's conditions were reasonably foreseeable events.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus, CAD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and gout has been restored.,Service connection for a right hip disability and hyperthyroidism remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 11, 2014 for service connection of pancreatitis, DM2, PTSD with secondary ETOH, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for effective date prior to February 11, 2013 for service connection of CAD has also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a skin rash, TBI, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been withdrawn. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted with a 100% disability rating effective September 1, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, left eye cataract, left leg peripheral neuropathy, and right leg peripheral neuropathy as claimed due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's unit was not stationed in the Korea DMZ, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity and bilateral upper extremities neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to cold weather injuries incurred during WWII.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, due to the need to verify the ship's location during the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam.