Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted on a presumptive basis. The appeal to reopen the claim and grant an increased rating for left leg peripheral neuropathy, generalized anxiety disorder, and TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are all granted. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% and granted, while the service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity remains pending. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's claims are not yet resolved.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, heart valve disorder, hypertension, skin cancer, and enlarged neck glands are all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.,There is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, left eye macular edema and bilateral retinopathy is rated at 40 percent effective June 27, 2017. His chronic kidney disease was initially rated at 80 percent from December 20, 2016 to June 26, 2017. Both left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for kidney disease, hypertension, peripheral and median neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and median neuropathy of the upper extremities due to incomplete evidence and need for further examination.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, Type II, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney problems, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and major depression and mood disorder have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,There are no presumptive service connection provisions applicable to any of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective March 26, 2015 due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy and PTSD. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, including whether it is related to in-service herbicide exposure or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease have been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, cataracts, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are still pending.,An effective date earlier than May 21, 2013 has not been established for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as the claim for TDIU. The Veteran's symptoms began in 1975 and have continued since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease with PCI, allergic rhinitis, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches was granted, effective September 1, 2009. A subsequent increase to 50 percent was denied.,A compensable rating (10%) for left ulnar nerve compression neuropathy was granted beginning September 1, 2009, and a higher rating (20%) was granted beginning December 4, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the feet, affect his ability to use his feet and lower extremities. The VA is remanded to schedule a VA examination to assess whether he has effectively lost the use of one or both feet due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous examination is needed to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer, status post vagotomy with postgastric surgery syndrome due to recent symptom worsening. Additionally, the claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy and cataracts need to be remanded as no statement of the case has been issued yet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung condition began during his active military service and is granted. The issues of service connection for a bilateral hand condition, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to new evidence.