Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, alcohol dependence, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, peripheral neuropathies, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertensive heart disease, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of December 24, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities as well as pancreatitis due to insufficient information on in-service exposure. The Veteran's assertions will be further investigated.

The Board has denied service connection for muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and headaches as secondary to prostate cancer. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and associated peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities are being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity.

The Board has denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus. The Veteran is also remanded for further examinations related to his shell fragment wounds.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any such disability was incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for left ankle disability prior to July 8, 2013 is denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board granted service connection for low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, mesothelioma, an abnormal heart disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, hypertension, metabolic syndrome to include insulin resistant disorder and/or diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and depression secondary to medical condition.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected residuals of right humerus fracture is remanded. The Veteran also has a vision disability that needs to be evaluated by VA, and the current rating for his neuropathy of the right upper extremity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities require additional development due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.

Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted. The issues of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities were denied.,From May 31, 2016, the Veteran's initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, essential hypertension with ocular changes, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction, did not render him totally unemployable prior to May 30, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of peripheral neuropathy in his right upper, lower extremities and left lower extremity. The effective dates were fixed at August 20, 2012, July 27, 2007, and July 27, 2007 respectively.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of current evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for a right thigh bone spur, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability, respiratory infections, obstructive sleep apnea, derma fibrosarcoma (presumptively related to herbicide exposure), peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities, all of which are presumed to be related to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Neuropathy, upper and lower extremities, due to herbicide exposure is granted. The appeals are remanded for further adjudication.