Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and neuropathic ulcers of the toes as secondary to diabetes. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.,Service connection for kidney condition (including renal calculi) is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral eye condition is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for tremors is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the VA has remanded several issues related to his health conditions.

The Board denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incomplete paralysis or neuritis/neuralgia.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a headache disability. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but the evidence did not support a finding that his conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity disabilities, including Raynaud's disease and peripheral neuropathy, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and its resulting diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's diagnosed diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left wrist condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to undergo another VA examination to determine if she currently has any diagnosed conditions and whether they are related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction as these conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, diabetes mellitus (Type II), left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to October 29, 2018, and thereafter is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, diabetes mellitus, Type II, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, right shoulder impairment, left shoulder impairment, cervical spine disorder, arthritis of the ankles and hips, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident, status post is not service-connected as it was first shown years after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issue of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral femoral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, heart disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving on the U.S.S. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). The AOJ is instructed to attempt to ascertain if the ship sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam during the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met as of March 3, 2015.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and COPD are all granted. The Veteran is also granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, as well as his claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities. The appeals are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a hand condition, skin cancers, and a lung condition. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was also denied.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran did not provide credible supporting evidence that his claimed stressors actually occurred.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.