Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, diabetes mellitus II, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the functional loss of use of both lower extremities, such that locomotion is precluded without the aid of braces, cane, or wheelchair. Therefore, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's CAD and diabetes mellitus are presumed to have been incurred in active service due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities is at least as likely as not caused by his diabetes mellitus, which is also presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.,High cholesterol claim was dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension remains pending due to insufficient evidence.,An acquired psychiatric disorder claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's skin disorder has not required treatment during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of hands, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetic retinopathy. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance or housebound status was not established due to his service-connected disabilities, as the majority of his physical limitations were caused by nonservice-connected conditions. The Board found that SMC is not warranted based on either the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The claim for cervical spine disability is granted, while the claim for left lower extremity neuropathy is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral neuropathy, secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse, liver disorder, IHD, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertensive heart disease, and hypertension are all denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective January 29, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and diabetic peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as for upper extremities prior to September 18, 2006, have been dismissed due to the Veteran expressing his desire to withdraw these appeals. The appeals for increased ratings since September 18, 2006 remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, Type 2 with erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to allow for further evaluation of these conditions due to the Veteran's contentions regarding the adequacy of the VA examinations and his complaints of worsening symptoms.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence showing that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal and gastric varices, and hepatitic C cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service occurrence.,Service connection for ischemic neuropathy of the left upper extremity was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and active duty service.,Prostate cancer, claimed as related to herbicide exposure, was not granted service connection because there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered on their merits. The Board has found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the cause of his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is remanded.