Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service foot pain and long-term exposure to hot weather.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to herbicide exposure at Fort McClellan in Allison, Alabama. The Veteran's claim is pending as it relates to presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, a bilateral lower extremity disorder (other than neuropathy), and a heart disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for secondary polycythemia, psoriatic arthritis, parathyroid tumor, gum disease, gout, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is now rated at 60 percent, effective July 14, 2016. The right lower extremity condition remains at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity neuropathy, but has remanded the issues of service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, finding it related to a right knee injury sustained during military service. The claim was dismissed for the left lower extremity due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including exposure to chemicals like TCE, PCBs, and benzene, due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, lung disorder, restless leg syndrome, neuropathy of left lower extremity, and neuropathy of right lower extremity. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated at 20%, the right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy at 20%, and the left arm radiculopathy at 20%. A TDIU effective from October 11, 2011, was granted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand.,His right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity neuropathies are secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,His lung disability (including a thoracotomy) is remanded for further examination as the nature of this condition remains unclear.,His hypertension is remanded due to its possible association with exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand.,The Veteran's left eye disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder arthritis and impingement syndrome, left shoulder glenohumeral arthritis, lower back degenerative joint disease, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, left leg amputation, peripheral neuropathies in both upper and lower extremities, vocal cord paralysis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy was granted in an August 2019 rating decision, rendering the issue moot.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted, and subsequent manifestations of degenerative arthritis in the left hip and bilateral big toes are considered as a manifestation of this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The Board found that the Veteran does not have an anatomical loss, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, is not permanently bedridden due to a service-connected disability, nor is he so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right hip avascular necrosis, left arm neuropathy, and left leg neuropathy. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson’s disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claim for these conditions is being reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability (claimed as CAD with myocardial infarction), hepatitis C, lumbar spine disability, left foot injury, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were not found to have onset during service or be related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not found to have onset during service and is not otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy was denied, and his lumbar spine disability was granted a 20% rating effective March 15, 2014. Ratings in excess of 20% were denied.