Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities from 20 percent to 20 percent, effective April 1, 2015. The reduction was improper as there was no actual improvement in the condition under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disorder in service and no continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim also failed on the basis of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic ulcer, and diabetic edema to service. The Veteran's assertions about symptoms in service are considered, but a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU was denied because no timely substantive appeal was received within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's bilateral feet degenerative joint disease, pes planus, and retrocalcaneal heel spurs resulted in a 50% rating as of December 20, 2016. The right sural/peroneal neuropathy was rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 8522.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for poor circulation of the left and right lower extremities, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities (claimed as tremors), are denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection for a sleep disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected diabetes has aggravated his peripheral neuropathies in all extremities, and to address whether there are any other issues related to these conditions. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service or to his service-connected disabilities. The Board denied both the DIC and service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete information and records. The Veteran is required to provide copies of his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral cataracts, OSA, TBI with dementia, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for left leg disability, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is related to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, infertility, missing teeth, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities and feet due to new evidence suggesting an earlier onset.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for hypertension and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the hypertension began during active service, was noted during service with continuity of symptomatology since service, or is proximately due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The same applies for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy, as well as a need for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The initial rating for PTSD prior to April 25, 2017, was denied, but the service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an enlarged prostate, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and hypertension are denied. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated neuropathies due to gaps in private treatment records from February 1997 to May 2001, and then from May 2002 to August 2013. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is being remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents, as well as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. A VA medical opinion is needed to address whether these conditions are related to active service or service-connected disabilities.