Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, including delusional disorder. Service connection is denied for traumatic brain injury and/or residuals of TBI, seizure disorder, blurred vision, joint pain, muscle pain, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, memory loss, and weight loss.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus type 2 was granted. The case is remanded for further action on the remaining issues, including service connection and rating determinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 16, 2016. Effective November 16, 2016, the Veteran was granted entitlement to TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or pathology related to these conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is not rated higher than 20 percent due to limitation of motion not reaching the 25 degrees from side threshold.,The Veteran's urticaria with angioneurotic edema does not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent as it has not resulted in debilitating episodes requiring immunosuppressive therapy or attacks occurring more than once per year without laryngeal involvement.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the left upper extremity is rated at 20 percent due to moderate incomplete paralysis, and does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and coronary artery disease. The Board finds that the evidence shows the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unemployable.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from May 21, 2013, to February 7, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran died from liver failure with hepatic encephalopathy secondary to lymphoma. The cause of death is not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, neuropathy of the feet secondary to prostate cancer treatment, PTSD, and residuals of prostate cancer due to lack of sufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy may be related to his service, specifically exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding his specific exposure in Thailand, the case is being remanded for further investigation.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions and denied reopening of his claims. However, it granted reopening of a claim for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure and assigned an effective date of March 10, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful occupation. The Board needs a contemporaneous examination to determine the functional impact of these disabilities on his ability to work, and will refer it for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim will be reconsidered after a determination on diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not present during service or for years thereafter and was not caused by any incident of service.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity neuropathy had its onset during the Veteran’s active military service, and his left lower extremity neuropathy also had its onset during the Veteran’s active military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and he is entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his combined service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for Right Shoulder Degenerative Arthritis and Left Upper Extremity Ulnar Neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, leg and arm neuropathy, an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder, with persistent major depressive episode, prior to July 16, 2012, and a TDIU prior to July 16, 2012 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has vacated the July 2018 decision denying an earlier effective date for service connection of left upper extremity ulnar neuropathy and remanded the case to consider new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been reopened. The Board finds new evidence that raises the possibility of substantiating these claims.,Service connection will be remanded to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran’s current conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's diabetes is currently rated at 20 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted as it does not require insulin or hospitalizations. For his peripheral neuropathies, the Board has also remanded due to inadequate examination findings.