Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Hypercholesterolemia is not service-connected.,Erectile dysfunction, hypertension, headaches, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service. Service connection is granted.,Hypercholesterolemia is not a disability that can be awarded by VA.,Erectile dysfunction, hypertension, headaches, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all remanded for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims will need to be re-evaluated based on new evidence or clarification.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is less likely than not caused by his military service due to lack of medical records supporting a chronic condition during service, and right shoulder disability was deferred as the Veteran had not been released from his orthopedic surgeon at the time of examination. The claims are remanded for further development.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is less likely than not caused by his military service due to lack of medical records supporting a chronic condition during service, and right shoulder disability was deferred as the Veteran had not been released from his orthopedic surgeon at the time of examination. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence added to the record since the last AOJ adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence that it manifested in service or to a compensable degree within one year after separation. The Veteran's current condition is attributed to his long history of type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the automobile and adaptive equipment claim is inextricably intertwined with multiple pending service connection claims. Therefore, these issues must be resolved before the current claim can be decided.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM2) is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for chloracne is denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service or due to herbicide exposure. The claim for peripheral neuropathy secondary to DM2 is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's claim for chloracne remains denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service or due to herbicide exposure. The claim for peripheral neuropathy secondary to DM2 is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he can still perform duties other than heavy equipment operator.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted prior to July 12, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

Service connection for memory loss is denied. A rating of 50 percent, but no higher, for depression is granted effective August 20, 2012. The claims for increased ratings for left hip osteoarthritis with limited extension, left knee chondromalacia, radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied as a matter of law.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for bilateral hammer toes and right foot hallux valgus, left lower extremity shin area varicosities, and left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete information in the examination reports. Additional development is needed to clarify the source of the Veteran's foot swelling and its impact on his ability to ambulate, as well as the frequency and severity of flare-ups of his varicose veins.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities from April 16, 2010 to November 7, 2017. The Veteran's symptoms have been characterized as moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and further examination is needed to determine if any of his conditions are related to in-service events.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claims are being considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and restless leg syndrome of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to herbicide exposure, as well as his claim for service connection for these conditions secondary to obstructive sleep apnea. The VA must provide a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed neurological disabilities are related to his military service, specifically including his presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded. The initial rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied. An initial 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted at a 10 percent rating. Service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Johnson in Selmer, Tennessee.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, as his service-connected disabilities may be related to his medical conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, testicular hypofunction, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his peripheral neuropathy, lung condition, psychiatric disorder, and prostate problems.