Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's claims were not granted as his conditions are considered direct service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for dental condition service connection. Diabetes, lung cancer, and liposarcoma of the right posterior thigh are granted with service connection. The claims for arthritis of the bilateral upper extremities, ankles, and hips are remanded.

The Board has determined that more contemporaneous examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and right foot plantar fasciitis disabilities. Additionally, the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for peripheral artery disease in the right lower extremity, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy in the right upper and left upper extremities, kidney disorder (chronic kidney disease), and bilateral cataracts.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy is rated at 40 percent from November 11, 2011 to June 3, 2018. The rating will remain at 40 percent for this period.

The Board has denied reopening the claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability, but has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities to include diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for restoration of service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left hip, and right lower extremity neuropathy conditions. The claims will be further evaluated after obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tendinitis of the bilateral arms and left leg/calf, as well as his claim for service connection for COPD, were granted. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no compensation is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for residuals of frostbite injuries and peripheral neuropathy in his lower extremities have been denied. The maximum schedular ratings are already assigned, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on additional symptoms or worsening.

The Veteran's ratings for lumbar spondylopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity were restored to their previous levels due to a reduction in rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicides during service.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary for proper development of the issues, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his right hand disability was denied as new and material evidence was not received.,His left arm disability, diagnosed as cubital tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy, is also denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for neck spasms (spasmodic torticollis) is denied because there is no medical nexus between the condition and service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is denied without a finding of a causal link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy as it found no evidence of current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis C, PTSD, and ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity have been denied as his service discharge was considered dishonorable for VA purposes.

This decision denies an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with neuropathy and retinopathy, as well as an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate. The appeal is also remanded for further development on issues including initial ratings for PTSD and gastroparesis/GERD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum 10 percent level.,The Veteran's diabetes was rated at 20 percent prior to June 22, 2016 and 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities were each rated at 10 percent.