Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for additional addendum opinions.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities has been reopened and is granted. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD, as well as the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, right knee condition, and left knee condition are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 21, 2011. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU effective from July 21, 2011 to July 8, 2015.

The Board has dismissed appeals for higher ratings for the Veteran's right wrist condition and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and entitlement to TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. N.T.

The Veteran's bilateral neuropathy was granted service connection with an effective date of April 17, 2015. However, the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ were denied as they did not arise before October 27, 2015.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) are not service-connected.,Diabetes mellitus is remanded for further review due to herbicide agent exposure.,Right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy are secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and require further review.,Hypertension is remanded as it may be related to herbicide agent exposure or a heart disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and rating considerations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and neuropathy of his extremities, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and other trauma and stressor-related disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity (femoral nerve), and diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve) are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted at 30 percent each, effective June 1, 2018. Ratings for the right and left lower extremities are also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/ neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the current condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity are all found to be due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and type II diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on the combined disability rating of 70%.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both the left upper and lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and remanded the issue of service connection for meningioma tumor of the brain due to presumed herbicide exposure.,The claim for reopening of service connection for basil cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was not reopened.

The Board found that the Veteran's daughter’s Social Security income was not reasonably available to or for his use, and thus should be excluded from the calculation of his own countable income. As a result, the November 2010 reduction in nonservice-connected pension benefits was not proper.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve) was granted with a 20 percent rating effective from April 10, 2018. The Veteran also received TDIU benefits from October 16, 2015 to March 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.