Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 30, 2013, for the awards of service connection for diabetes mellitus and associated neuropathy affecting the upper and lower extremities are denied.,The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for hypertension and skin disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity was granted with an effective date of September 11, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for uncontrolled open angle glaucoma with cataracts was denied as there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the July 29, 2015 submission.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is at least in part due to his alcohol abuse resulting from his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who conducted his October 2014 examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, and the preponderance of the evidence showed that the Veteran’s PTSD symptoms were manageable with therapy but still impacted his social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents or other toxic chemicals during his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (depression combined with the back disabilities as well as depression and back disabilities combined with the sleep apnea) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, effective February 22, 2018.

The appeal for service connection for a left side inguinal hernia, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy has been dismissed.,The July 18, 1980 rating decision granting service connection for spondylosis of the lumbar spine was not found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of gout of the right and left feet, and a right wrist disorder remain remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims to reopen his service connection for carpal tunnel with peripheral neuropathy, left and right upper extremity are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been denied as his conditions do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The petition to reopen the appeal for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The petition to reopen the appeal for entitlement to service connection for right knee pain is reopened and the claim for service connection for right knee pain is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy; and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities improved and reduced his ratings from 20% to 10%, effective May 1, 2015.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected death pension and special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person, or by reason of being housebound due to insufficient evidence showing she is in need of such benefits.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the AOJ not considering his PTSD when evaluating his disability rating. The issue of whether he can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities alone remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that it is related to his conceded herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right wrist strain, peripheral autonomic neuropathy, and PTSD have been denied. The denial is based on the current level of disability as supported by medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the cause of death. The examiner did not properly address whether peripheral neuropathy, which was linked to service-connected disabilities, caused phrenic nerve paralysis and respiratory failure resulting in death.