Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. Additional development is required, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to environmental toxins, including herbicide agents, at Fort McClellan.

The Board has granted reopening of claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection is also granted for right upper and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathies as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including some that have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are related to service connection for various conditions and rating of disabilities such as right foot fracture residuals, TBI with headaches, low back disability, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, left wrist disability, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining authorization and requesting private treatment records related to hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, a supplemental opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to ear infections during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left knee disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The rating issues related to his back disability remain under review.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, PTSD, hearing loss, and hypertension. However, the claim for service connection of hypertension is reopened due to a recent determination from the National Academy of Sciences upgrading hypertension to the 'sufficient' category.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, which is the maximum available under current regulations.,Service connection for bronchitis has been reopened and granted based on new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and active service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a brain tumor is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's DM does not require regulation of activities and thus, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the VA failed to diagnose a Bartonella henselae infection and if the October 2008 surgery caused an additional neurological disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board has found no basis for a higher rating based on the current evidence.,The Veteran's cataracts are rated at 0 percent, as they do not meet any criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6027 or other relevant codes.,Issues related to PTSD, TDIU, and DEA benefits have been remanded.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of November 30, 1993 for the award of service connection for a neurological impairment, to include peripheral neuropathy with essential tremors, of both the right and left upper extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the entire period on appeal, and his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cardiac disability other than hypertension and a right hand disability, including peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed upper extremity neuropathy, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board dismissed all increased rating claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as secondary to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current condition was not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) is found to have caused his polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, which has been granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are also found to be related to his service-connected DMII, leading to a grant of TDIU.