Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including of the bilateral feet, knees, hips, lumbar spine, and chronic joint pain, as well as peripheral neuropathy. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of current disability in any of these conditions.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been reopened, with the grant of service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for gynecomastia, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right ear hearing loss, hypogonadism (low testosterone), gastric ulcers, and back disorder are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure during service, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the right and left hands, as well as feet, have been rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are all granted as service connected. The Board found that these conditions were related to his military service or due to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with mild bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy was restored to a 60 percent rating effective September 1, 2012. The TDIU claim is denied as the combined disability rating remains at 100 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran has bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy that is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for Basal Cell Carcinoma of the right ear. The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities were granted, with presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his military service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II with bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is currently rated at 40 percent for the right upper extremity and 30 percent for the left upper extremity. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate given the moderate severity of his symptoms, including numbness and pain in his hands and fingers.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic retinopathy of the right eye is rated at 40 percent. The peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding increased disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his service-connected lumbar spine disability and his current condition.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity conditions. The Veteran will need to provide any missing records from Bagram Hospital in Afghanistan, Kandahar TMC, and Dr. Parker.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that entitlement did not arise prior to March 27, 1990.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of sleep apnea being granted. The remaining issues were either not reopened or denied due to lack of new and material evidence.