Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to increased evaluations for various peripheral neuropathies and diabetes mellitus type II, as well as his claim for an effective date prior to August 16, 2013 for the grant of TDIU.

The appeal on the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for gout is dismissed. The claims for generalized arthritis, bilateral eye disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened.

Service connection is granted for a back disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis remains under review.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the initial increased rating issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The current disability ratings are insufficient to reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions alone precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to ascertain his ACDUTRA dates and obtain VA treatment records from the West Los Angeles facility.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted service connection based on herbicide exposure. The hypertension claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to engage and maintain in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities is remanded for further evaluation, including consideration of a direct service connection and potential herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities is rated at 20% since May 4, 2011. The Board denied higher ratings for the right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied initial increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent for LLE peripheral neuropathy or a rating in excess of 20 percent for RLE peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, back, right hip, left arm (claimed as progressive muscular atrophy), and right arm disabilities. Service connection was granted for migraine headaches.

Service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence of their onset in service or within one year post-service, and they are not otherwise related to service. Service connection for other conditions like fibromyalgia, CFS, IBS, impotence, incontinence, elbow and shoulder disorders, and left knee arthritis is also denied due to lack of a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that it is related to in-service radiation exposure.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities. The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus II was denied. The RO granted service connection for diabetic nephropathy to include hypertension associated with DM II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, erectile dysfunction, and entitlement to special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, have been sufficiently disabling to render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.