Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and associated neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to exposure to environmental toxins at Fort McClellan. Further development is needed to assess her exposure and determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both hands and hypertension, as these issues are related to herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy or hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all issues on appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period from November 30, 2012 to September 16, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and related complications such as neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and depression, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 17, 2012. The effective date for this TDIU is set at June 17, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The prostate cancer and metastasis of prostate carcinoma into cervical spine region, low back injury, cold injury sequelae, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and malignant melanoma claims are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure, service connection for a low back injury, etiology of cold injury residuals, peripheral neuropathies, and malignant melanoma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and sensory polyneuropathy, bilateral lower extremities, are all granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service, with particular emphasis on noise exposure and herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and exposure to Agent Orange within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board has determined that updated examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity as these conditions are not considered diseases or injuries subject to service connection. The Veteran's claims were denied on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD, lumbar degenerative disc disease and strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left thumb ulnar collateral ligament surgery, status post reconstruction/fusion with ankylosis, left thumb sensory neuropathy, and ganglion cyst, left ankle due to outstanding VA medical records from the Little Rock VA Medical Center not being associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's left finger neuropathy and left hand degenerative joint disease have been granted increased ratings, with the left finger neuropathy receiving a 40% rating from December 3, 2010 to February 8, 2018, and the left hand degenerative joint disease receiving a 20% rating starting from February 8, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for discounting the Veteran's lay assertions of unemployability, as well as insufficient discussion on why he is capable of substantially gainful employment. An updated VA examination is needed to assess the current severity and functional impact of his right ulnar neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and that it is not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated erectile dysfunction are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Veteran seeks higher ratings.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent each, with no evidence suggesting a need for higher ratings.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II with bilateral peripheral vascular disease and erectile dysfunction, as well as other disabilities. The appeals are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes with peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to herbicides. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.