Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented. The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Fort McClellan.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, kidney disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's HTN is being evaluated for its onset during service or causation by diabetes. His kidney condition and peripheral neuropathy are also being evaluated for their onset during service or causation by diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if his service-connected conditions cause 'no effective function' remaining in his feet, as required by VA regulations.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the Appellant, as appellants' claims do not survive their death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar degenerative disc disease and service connection for a neurological disorder of the lower extremities. The Veteran is also seeking an individual unemployability rating prior to August 17, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its secondary peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Korea. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities have been remanded due to a lack of VA examination records and notification issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of bilateral leg burns, including idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, compensation for loss of use of the lower extremities due to service-connected disability, and entitlement to a specially adapted automobile or adaptive equipment only. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed sleep apnea as there is no evidence that it began in service or is otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision did not address the issue of service connection under the PACT Act, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other presumptive exposure bases.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the residuals from the Veteran's in-service foot injury and whether his current conditions are related to that injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and failure to address lay statements. The Veteran's service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure, is now pending again with the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity have all been granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that the earliest possible date was July 21, 1998.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, particularly regarding his assertions of continuity of symptoms since separation from active duty and the potential secondary effects of his alcohol abuse on his liver disease.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for hypertension and found that there is no new and material evidence to support it. The Veteran's high cholesterol was also not service-connected as a laboratory finding does not qualify for VA compensation.,Claims for earlier effective dates have been denied due to lack of proof of an increase in disability occurring within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, tinnitus, and carpal tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 90% for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for IHD, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for diabetes was not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus and remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for type II diabetes mellitus.