Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for brain cancer and lung cancer was granted. The claims for service connection for a headache disability, bladder cancer, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder, neurological disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and restless leg syndrome. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, bilateral foot disorder (Charcot of the right foot), and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities due to his exposure to ionizing radiation on Johnston Atoll. The case will be further developed with VA examinations to determine if there is a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as these conditions are proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus (type 2).

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection of COPD but denied all other claims due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's sleep apnea, tinnitus, neuropathy of upper extremities, and left lower extremity are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions and TDIU has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to unclear evidence regarding whether he had IHD at any point during his service. The Veteran is also denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected neuropathy of the left 4th digit and status-post fracture and tendon rupture, left long finger tendonitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current 20 percent assigned under DC 8516 for the left 4th digit condition or the noncompensable ratings currently assigned for the left long finger condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of January 31, 1991, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, foot disorders, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, prostate condition, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these areas or a causal link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, as well as the issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for hypertension. The Veteran is scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and extraschedular consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left elbow condition is denied.,The effective date of the award of service connection for bilateral knee DJD is set at February 17, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations for right and left knee DJD are denied.,The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 3, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarification of the Veteran's SSA compensation award and scheduling an updated VA diabetes examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is rated based on the severity of symptoms, with a maximum rating of 20% for moderate incomplete paralysis. The issues regarding service connection for swallowing/breathing problems and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.,Service connection for both peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities has been granted, but the Veteran's claims for service connection for swallowing/breathing problems remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected right upper extremity neuropathy and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 23, 2014, and a separate compensable rating thereafter, for service-connected left upper extremity neuropathy. The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his bilateral upper extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the failure of the RO to issue an SOC. The appeal must be returned to the Board after issuance of the SOC.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), residuals of throat cancer, a heart disability, a respiratory disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.,The Board also granted one issue - the remand on service connection for residuals of throat cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various upper and lower extremity neuropathies, a breathing disorder other than lung cancer, and chest pains. The reasons include missing records related to the Veteran's service-connected lung cancer and the need to consider whether these conditions are related to his service-connected lung cancer.