Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are granted. Service connection for acquired psychiatric condition is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA examination provided, as it does not provide sufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy is related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted. The diagnoses were found to be related to his military service due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing VA examinations to address the etiology of various conditions. The claims are pending until these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased rating for a cervical spine disability, service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to a cervical spine disability, and service connection for chest pain as secondary to a cervical spine disability. The case will be remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left leg traumatic neuropathy is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are denied for increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral foot neuropathy have been reopened. The temporary total disability ratings for left and right foot sinus tarsi syndrome with degenerative changes are denied.,No surgery resulting in at least one month of convalescence was provided for the treatment of service-connected left and right foot conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, is found to be etiologically related to his active service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, chloracne, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board has found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection is being remanded for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations, as his disabilities have worsened since the last evaluations.

The Board denied a separate rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity with carpal tunnel syndrome and referred the Veteran's increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities with carpal tunnel syndrome due to the collective impact of all service-connected disabilities for extra-schedular consideration, but found that referral was precluded by law.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the TDIU award cannot be granted because the Veteran did not timely appeal the February 1981 rating decision denying his initial claims and filed a claim to reopen these claims on October 17, 2008. The earliest possible effective date he can receive is October 15, 2014.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was granted with a non-compensable rating. The Veteran is also denied a compensable rating after December 2016 due to the absence of residuals. Additionally, he is denied a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The case is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicides in Korea. The Board requests further research and the Veteran is asked to provide additional lay statements.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations of various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for Grave's disease. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a heart disability, are remanded due to outstanding records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides. The issues of sleep apnea, loss of use of creative organ secondary to diabetes, left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes, and right lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's low back disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being reviewed, but no specific service connection theory is provided.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or exposure.,Service connection was denied as there is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to active duty service.