Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and upper extremities have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran contends that his condition is related to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disorder are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and tinnitus. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and provide the Veteran with a comprehensive examination to determine if he has these conditions and their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy contributed substantially or materially to his death from sepsis due to bowel necrosis and severe abdominal adhesions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have produced total occupational impairment, and he is granted TDIU. The appeals for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetes mellitus are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The earlier effective date claim for left wrist tenosynovitis is not currently before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are granted. The VA is directed to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if his hypertension, PTSD, sleep apnea, loss of teeth, pulmonary edema, and erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran needs an examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to use aids such as braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from January 4, 2011 is dismissed as the RO has already granted this benefit.,An effective date prior to January 4, 2011 for the grant of TDIU is denied because the evidence does not show that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and a skin disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, particularly whether it is related to service-connected disabilities or aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory conditions and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, claimed as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, are denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. Service connection was granted for anxiety.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, gout, and lumbar degenerative joint/disc disease. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly assess the Veteran's diabetes and its associated complications, including peripheral neuropathy. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and PTSD are granted. For the rating period from February 23, 2012 forward, a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, left upper extremity neuropathy, and rating in excess of 10 percent for a heart disability.