Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to be severe enough to warrant a 70% disability rating, effective from June 5, 2017.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to herbicide exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities, as secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as hypertension based on new and material evidence has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his scar associated with umbilical hernia is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and clarification of certain examination reports.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death. No effective date or rating was assigned.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received since the July 2012 rating decision, warranting readjudication of the claim. The AOJ is required to readjudicate the case on the merits.

Your appeal for service connection has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with your claims as they are no longer valid.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to a lack of VA treatment records from the 1960s and 1970s. The Veteran testified that he received treatment for these conditions at various locations including Meadville VA, Franklin Hospital, and privately.

The Veteran's sensory neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, and his back disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The Board has granted a higher rating for the sensory neuropathy but denied any increase in the rating for the back disability.

The Veteran's skin condition is not related to active service and is attributed to a known clinical diagnosis.,Headaches are less likely caused by an in-service head injury and are not due to exposure event during Southwest Asia service.,Chronic fatigue syndrome is more likely related to other conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and mood disorder rather than chronic fatigue syndrome.,Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities have no current diagnosis or etiology provided by the VA examination.

The Board has restored service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to the improper severance of these conditions. The issues of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities are not service-connected as they are less likely than not related to his active duty.,His low back disability is also denied as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy with cataracts. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II.

Service connection for DMII and related peripheral neuropathies due to herbicide exposure is granted. The Veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence, and service connection was established for diabetes mellitus type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including assessing the symptomatology associated with diagnosed conditions and providing clarification on service connection claims.

Your service connection claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in your left and right feet have already been granted by VA, so these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.