Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further development. The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure.,CIDP and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities, and he does not qualify for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grants.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The effective date for this grant is March 31, 2014.,Service connection for CAD and diabetes mellitus is denied as the earliest evidence of these conditions was received after March 31, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The effective date for CAD and diabetes mellitus remains March 31, 2014.,Right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and cerebral infarction (stroke) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he is currently in receipt of a combined disability rating of 100% due to his service-connected disabilities, and the evidence does not show that he is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. However, the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus due to the lack of a current diagnosis.,Service connection is remanded for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus (type II) as these conditions may be associated with herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examination and to obtain all current VA treatment records. The examiner will assess the impact of his service-connected diabetic neuropathy on his ability to walk without assistance.

The Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service connected. The Board also remanded the cases for additional examinations and rating determinations due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating more than 30 percent for the right side or 10 percent for the left side.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for adding his children K.L., J.L, and Z.L. to his compensation award was denied because he did not provide the required information about their places of birth within a year of receiving notification from VA.