Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a skin disorder due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for most of his conditions, except for a finding that tinnitus warranted at least a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection based on lack of in-service treatment or diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities including peripheral neuropathy and varicocele of the left testicle, renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy in his lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The appeal is remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left arm is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted. The condition is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides during his military service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and conflicting medical opinions. The issues of residuals of frostbite, tension headaches, and blindness of the left eye (as secondary to tension headaches) will be addressed again with new evidence and examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further development as the claim was not previously evaluated with a VA examination.,The left knee and neck disabilities are not being remanded as there is no new evidence relevant to these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of shell fragment wound, right calf, muscle group XI, with hypesthesia in the right great toe is denied. The Board found that his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent evaluation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of post trauma neuropathy, right lower extremity musculocutaneous nerve with right sciatic radiculopathy was denied as the earliest possible effective date is based on the date of his claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to September 28, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of a TDIU from September 28, 2018 is dismissed as moot because the Veteran's combined schedular disability rating reached 100 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for right upper extremity and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for non-allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, and other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or herbicide exposure are found to be the cause of his sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, which is granted as a direct result.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, shoulder and hip disabilities, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were not shown as chronic in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions being related to his military service to be speculative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were first diagnosed 30 years after separation from service and are not considered to be related to service.

The Board has restored the pre-reduction disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents while serving on the U.S.S. Puget Sound.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.