Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus and posterior tibia tendonitis, as well as bilateral peroneal neuropathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service foot injury and symptoms, which have been linked to current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for reductions in disability evaluations, initial evaluations for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to April 1, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for HIV, an eye disorder secondary to HIV, and a throat disorder secondary to HIV. Service connection was also denied for a cystic lesion of the left leg (varicose veins), a skin disorder secondary to HIV, bilateral pes planus, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction, are also granted as secondary to the service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,Diabetic retinopathy is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for proper procedure and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of his arms and hands due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed during service in an area near the Korean demilitarized zone.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the issues of secondary service connection have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The issue of TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Additional development is needed to confirm his reported experience.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions to address the cause of the Veteran's death and his service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for a spinal injury, neck condition, bilateral glaucoma, hypertension, low back condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and stroke.,New evidence received since the last final denial supports reopening these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during military service. The issues regarding a bilateral eye disability and a respiratory disability are remanded due to lack of complete medical records.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for status post shrapnel wound to the face, service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and a compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches have all been granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent and does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent and does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations, as well as additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and diabetic neuropathy due to the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection is denied for an eye disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining medical records and reliance on an inadequate opinion. The lumbar spine disability claim is being remanded, as it is inextricably intertwined with the peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from sedentary employment, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson’s disease, which is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam. The cause of the Veteran's death (Parkinson’s disease) is also considered as a contributory cause.