Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for ischemic cardiomyopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service.,The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both feet, noting there was no current diagnosis and no credible evidence linking it to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that additional development is necessary to determine if his current condition is related to his active service and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected sciatic and posterior tibial nerve peripheral neuropathy, ilio-inguinal nerve peripheral neuropathy (left), ilio-inguinal nerve peripheral neuropathy (right), internal saphenous nerve peripheral neuropathy (left), internal saphenous nerve peripheral neuropathy (right), obturator nerve peripheral neuropathy (left), obturator nerve peripheral neuropathy (right), and external cutaneous nerve peripheral neuropathy (left) and (right) have been granted a 40 percent rating prior to November 10, 2015. Effective March 22, 2017, the Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the earlier effective date claims for all service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies, and chronic ischemic heart disease. The appeal is related to the timing of when these conditions were granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for neuropathy of the left and right foot is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion. The eligibility for automobile benefits claim is also remanded as it could impact the service connection decision.

The Veteran's service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also granted with a rating of 20 percent prior to April 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because the evidence of record is insufficient to substantiate the TDIU appeal and the Veteran did not respond to the RO's requests for information.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed upper extremity neurological disorder is related to his presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the issuance of an incomplete Statement of the Case (SOC). The issues include PTSD, PN of the bilateral lower extremities involving both the sciatic and femoral nerves, DM, urinary incontinence, and TDIU.

The Veteran's body lesions and cysts are at least as likely as not related to her service-connected eczema.,Service connection is granted for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and body lesions and cysts.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for neuropathy of the left upper extremity associated with post-surgical residuals of a navicular bone fracture of the left wrist due to additional evidence received since the September 2017 SOC and the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that the Veteran's causes of death were not related to his military service and that none of his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, including due to herbicide agent exposure. Therefore, another remand is required.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The issues were related to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 6, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or any other condition.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin disorder (including jungle rot), cervical spine disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, left hip disability, and right hip disability are remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further clarification.