Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal regarding increased ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis, COPD, and bilateral lower extremities peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims are being remanded for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his cardiac condition, peripheral neuropathy, and retinopathy due to Agent Orange exposure. The appeals are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis as a residual of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but denied service connection for bowel disorder. The rating reduction for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from 100% to noncompensable was upheld.

The Board has decided that further development is necessary for the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, radiculopathy, and a lumbar myositis with HNP are now pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and TDIU due to in-service injuries and ongoing symptoms.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an effective date prior to February 3, 2017 for the grant of the temporary 100 percent disability rating for partial right knee replacement. The appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease and a neurological disorder diagnosed as essential bilateral hand tremors, MGUS and monoclonal neuropathy are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's lung, sleep, heart, skin, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claims are dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to request any available medical records from the Ohio National Guard.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and BLE nerve disorder (neuropathy) as the evidence did not show a chronic condition in service or within one year after service, nor was there any link to an injury or disease in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment beginning November 5, 2018. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for high cholesterol has been withdrawn and dismissed.,The claim for an earlier effective date for CAD is denied as the earliest available effective date is October 4, 2011.,Celiac disease was not related to service.,Uncontrollable shaking of the head (benign essential tremors) was not related to service.,Peripheral neuropathy and allergic dermatitis were not related to service or presumed herbicide exposure.,Service connection for allergic dermatitis is denied as there is no evidence of a malignant tumor of the skin.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the residual right femoral-ilio-inguinal neuropathy from June 15, 2015, finding that it approximated severe incomplete paralysis of the anterior crural (femoral) nerve.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral upper and lower extremities is remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if it is related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for left-leg peripheral neuropathy and bladder disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Claims for increased evaluations and effective dates for right-scrotum gunshot wound, scar, and PTSD are remanded due to the need for further development.