Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed in Thailand during his service, and therefore grants service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2, neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and lung disorder as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition but has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for clarification of opinions. The claims are related as they all involve conditions that have been linked to non-small cell lung cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities, have resulted in loss of use of his legs for the purposes of eligibility for specially adapted housing. Additionally, he is eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for depression has been reopened.,Claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, right lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy have all been dismissed as freestanding claims. The original decisions granting these conditions were final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to February 17, 2013, for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.

The Board has granted service connection for Graves' disease, but the claims for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neuropathy of the lower extremities due to internal inconsistencies in the Veteran's testimony regarding when her disabilities began.,The issue of service connection for a respiratory condition (asthma) remains pending as further development is needed.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for left knee instability effective January 2, 2013. The application to reopen the claim for service connection for right knee disability is remanded due to new and material evidence being received. Other claims are also remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right knee condition and service connection for bilateral planter neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is required to provide new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, specifically addressing his lay statements about symptom onset and treatment history.

The Veteran has withdrawn appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, except for the TDIU claim which is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, stroke, neuropathy, and heart disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment before February 26, 2016, and after November 1, 2019. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for these periods.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied, as he did not meet the DSM criteria. The reduction in his lumbar spine rating from 40% to 20% effective September 3, 2015 was found to be proper due to improvement evidenced by more restricted range of motion and increased radiculopathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The case is remanded for further development regarding the glaucoma rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities, DM, ischemic heart disease, TBI, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection for DM was not granted because the condition did not manifest within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity based on credible evidence of cold weather exposure during active duty in Alaska.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD prior to October 3, 2016 and since December 1, 2016.