Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder with opioid dependence, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his diagnoses were not related to his active duty service.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes. Service connection was denied for Bell's palsy due to lack of evidence linking it to VA treatment.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 1, 2019 is dismissed because he did not provide the necessary information in his VA Form 21-8940 application.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left foot and right foot due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted, with his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam considered. The Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a nexus between the Veteran’s current condition and his in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right wrist disability and associated ulnar neuropathy have been granted a 10% evaluation, effective May 23, 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange while stationed in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II; left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve); and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The reduction in rating for diabetes mellitus from 40 to 20 percent, effective January 1, 2018, was proper. Service connection has been established for PTSD, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, prostate cancer residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, and service-connected conditions that have not resulted in a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II, due to the need for clarification regarding herbicide exposure at U-Tapao Airfield in Thailand.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1962, which is necessary for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and various types of peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions in the file.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 1, 2019 was denied as there is no evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and diabetic neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicides or any other basis for service connection.