Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

Your claims for service connection have been granted. Diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension are now considered service-connected.,The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen your diabetes mellitus type II claim.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA disability criteria. The new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted, but service connection is still denied because there is no nexus between his period of service and his current condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has granted TDIU from January 23, 2018.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the submission of new VA medical evidence and inextricably intertwined issues with a claim for TDIU.

The claims of service connection for diabetes, left lower extremity neuropathy, and hypertension were denied as there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his psychiatric condition does not severely impair his ability to work in a work environment that requires frequent interactions with others. His peripheral neuropathy is not found to interfere with his employability, and his diabetes mellitus type 2 does not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right foot is granted. Service connection for spasmodic dysphonia is granted, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for colon cancer, atrial fibrillation, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and low back condition due to exposure to Agent Orange during service. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service or his conceded exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied service connection for a disability of the feet and/or legs, including tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) and residuals of frostbite. The Board also denied service connection for a respiratory/lung disability due to asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for retina condition, tailbone injury, neuropathy of left hand, and neuropathy of left shoulder. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a current disability related to these conditions in service or due to such disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot sural nerve neuropathy, finding that it is related to an injury during his ACDUTRA period in November 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent).,The Veteran's right hand neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent.,There is no current diagnosis of bilateral shin splints, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Service connection for GERD is not granted due to lack of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Vietnam. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, lung cancer, and related neuropathies have been granted. The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure because there is insufficient evidence to determine if he served in the Republic of Vietnam or its territorial waters.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea, and for his claims of retinopathy and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as they are inextricably intertwined with his diabetes claim.