Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 28, 2010 and for increased ratings are remanded due to unclear evidence regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's chronic bilateral eye photophobia and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy are granted service connection. His hypertension is denied, as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after his service. The reduction in rating for the upper lumbar spine disability from 60 percent to 20 percent was proper, but the discontinuation of TDIU based on this rating change is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability can be properly adjudicated. The Veteran's bilateral elbow disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation due to unresolved issues, including service connection for a respiratory disability and TDIU prior to October 20, 2016. The appeal regarding hypertension and peroneal neuropathy right lower extremity remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining work.

Service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DMII) and its associated peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been granted.,Service connection for Dermatitis of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The SMC based on aid and attendance prior to November 29, 2017 is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for reopening and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of these issues during a hearing. The claim for peripheral neuropathy was reopened, but denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to her service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder has been granted. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, right forearm disability (prior to January 26, 2018), and left eye disability is denied. A rating of 10 percent for the right forearm disability prior to January 26, 2018, was granted. For the period from January 26, 2018 onwards, a higher rating than 30 percent is not warranted. The claim for service connection for right ulnar nerve neuropathy and left eye disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral foot disability and low back disability due to additional development being required.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and reviewing VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, polyneuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, and diabetes, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed peripheral neuropathy, as well as new VA treatment records submitted after the May 2018 SSOC.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except diabetes mellitus type II is remanded. The Board will seek to obtain private treatment records and VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her exposure to herbicide agents during her time at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The VA will conduct further development to assess her claimed exposures and determine if they are sufficient to establish presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and cataracts.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The examinations did not review the claims file or recent treatment records, which may have affected their conclusions.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic arthritic condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnosis was not shown until over four decades later.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was also denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service and no continuity of symptomatology since service.