Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's sensory neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted effective from September 26, 2003. The Board also found that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected low back disability prior to April 12, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals before the Board could make a decision on them.

The Board has stayed the adjudication of claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, and has remanded two issues: Hepatitis B and C. The other issues have been stayed.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and coronary artery disease (CAD) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to insufficient evidence in the July 2015 VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hemorrhoids. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a heart condition. The claim for hypertension was granted, and initial ratings of 40 percent were assigned for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities from February 8, 2005. A TDIU was also granted effective February 8, 2005.

An earlier effective date of December 10, 2016 is granted for the increased disability ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities.,An earlier effective date of December 10, 2017 is granted for service connection of diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower femoral nerves.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not onset during or shortly after service. The Board also found no evidence of early-onset peripheral neuropathy related to service. Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding its relation to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating higher than this level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for various peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction conditions, finding no claim was received prior to October 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been denied. The Board found no new evidence to reopen the previously denied claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of his right hand, finding that he still had some limited function and would not be equally well served by an amputation with a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to clarify the current diagnoses and assess the etiology of the Veteran's conditions, particularly regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy and CVA.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and several types of peripheral neuropathy as well as kidney dysfunction and heart disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's BLE peripheral neuropathy is not related to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The condition did not manifest within a year of his last exposure and there is no evidence it was caused by such exposure.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeals for high cholesterol and migraine headaches with aura. The Board has remanded the remaining issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, a compensable rating for Raynaud's Disease, a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, and TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board finds that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and would require employment in a sheltered environment.