Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran is unable to work due to his service-connected PTSD and peripheral neuropathy, which rendered him unemployable. The Board granted a TDIU for the period on appeal.

The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient development regarding in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim of entitlement to a TDIU, are remanded.

The Veteran was found to be capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by substantially gainful employment prior to July 5, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability as defined by VA regulations.,Service connection is remanded for ischemic heart disease, erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The LLE and RLE peripheral neuropathy received a 40% rating from May 22, 2017 onwards, while the diabetes mellitus was granted a 40% rating from June 29, 2017 onwards. The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings of his upper extremities were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete development of evidence, including obtaining private treatment records from Geisinger. A detailed opinion is needed regarding the cause of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for Bechet's disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and rheumatoid arthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities as likely as not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience, starting May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no medical link to service, while his colon cancer was denied due to lack of a nexus to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were all denied as there was no medical link between the conditions and service. Depression was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type 2 and ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) due to exposure to Agent Orange are granted.,The Veteran's service connection claim for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, also due to exposure to Agent Orange, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left lumbar radiculopathy are granted. The Veteran's service connection claim for higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and persistent depressive disorder with mixed features result in the need for aid and attendance of another person due to memory impairment and the requirement of more than one insulin injection per day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, render him unemployable from June 1, 2015 to June 11, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's hypertension or medications.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disorder has been reopened and granted. Tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service. The reduction of the rating for prostate cancer residuals from 100% to 10% was improper, and the 60% rating for coronary artery disease is restored.