Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy. The skin disability claim is remanded as the Veteran reported that his skin blisters are more likely to erupt when his foot pain from peripheral neuropathy is at its greatest.

The Board has remanded the case due to a Joint Motion for Remand, and now requires a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, contributed to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, anemia, bilateral eye disability, and hypertension were all denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, lung disorder, chronic kidney disease, actinic keratosis, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hepatitis C are all denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and consideration of the issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting SSA medical records. The effective date claim for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right leg disorder, which the appellant claims as residuals of a lightning strike. The decision is based on evidence that suggests the Veteran's current condition may be related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for esophageal tumor and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral legs and feet due to a withdrawal by the appellant's attorney. The claims for diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's right carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome with peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 30 percent prior to October 25, 2019. From that date, the claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, effective from August 14, 2012 to June 1, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a spinal disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a respiratory disability. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, back disability, diabetes, and others, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right leg disabilities are not related to service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tremors of the right hand and arm, as well as his bilateral knee disorder. The VA will provide medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The effective dates for increased ratings for thoracic outlet syndrome and left ankle fracture residuals remain denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by a pulmonary embolus, which the Board found to be related to his service-connected atrial fibrillation. Therefore, DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, schedule an examination for the acquired psychiatric disorder, and provide a medical opinion regarding any sleep disorder. The dependent benefits claim for FM, GM, and LMM will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy in the lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, type II, and pre-cancerous colon polyps due to exposure to Agent Orange is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and pre-cancerous colon polyps due to exposure to Agent Orange is also being remanded as the VA has not yet provided an examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations for his lumbar spine, left lower extremity neuropathy, left shoulder, residuals of a mild concussion, bilateral hearing loss, plantar warts, left knee and femur, right foot disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, respiratory disorder, cardiovascular disease, acquired psychiatric disorder, and residuals of an allergy to bee sting.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking his condition to his military service or presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the Veteran’s type II diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, but his bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent.