Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is now rated at 40 percent from June 4, 2014.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity was increased to 20 percent effective March 25, 2016.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity was also increased to 20 percent effective March 25, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and access issues. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to have contributed to his death, but a new VA opinion is needed to determine if they caused or contributed substantially to it.

The Veteran's claim for reopening of the PTSD claim has been granted. The claims for hypertension and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) have also been granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. Other claims, including those related to hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, right knee disability, and brain lesions, are being remanded due to incomplete examinations or opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is found to be the etiological factor for his right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential exposure to toxins, including herbicide agents and PCBs. The Veteran's heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities are all being reviewed in light of this potential exposure.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the bilateral lower extremities, femoral nerve. The initial rating for PN of the sciatic nerve remains at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to prostate cancer, but denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus with hypertension, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy render him unemployable due to his inability to stand or walk for prolonged periods and his intrusive thoughts that interfere with focus and authority conflicts.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with herbicide exposure on July 20, 2012.,Effective dates were assigned based on the date of receipt of the claim to reopen.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection secondary to Lyme disease has been granted. Effective February 12, 2012, the Veteran is now entitled to benefits for chronic fatigue syndrome and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as there is no evidence showing in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but the specific details of the exposure basis remain unclear.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings higher than 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to lack of recent VA examination. The effective date claim is denied as it was received on January 30, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his migraine headaches, right hip disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran also has pending requests for increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for malignant melanoma and peripheral neuropathy with myocronus RLS due to potential service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not filed within the prescribed period following the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral lower extremities disorder, which is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.