Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the evidence does not include sufficient information to determine whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability was reopened and granted. He also received an increased rating for his diabetic neuropathy, but the issue of service connection for an upper back condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to his death, as there is no pending appeal at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic relapsing demyelinating polyneuropathy, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate findings and reasoning in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to additional development being required. The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is potentially related to exposure to toxic substances found at United States military installations on Okinawa, but a VA examination is needed to determine if his neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is proximately due to or the result of service-connected Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Veteran's chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his right and left upper extremities, were granted increased ratings from March 14, 2012 to March 14, 2013. After this date, he was granted a higher rating for his right and left lower extremities but not for his upper extremities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and intervertebral disc syndrome have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified idiopathic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to herbicide agent exposure, as it requires a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted effective as of March 18, 2013.,The Board has remanded several issues for further development including an earlier effective date for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes and remanded the claims of peripheral neuropathy, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantial gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,However, the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied because there is no medical evidence that it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and associated peripheral neuropathy due to outstanding medical records that need to be obtained and reviewed by a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of gynecomastia and had not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,For COPD, CAD, diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy, the Board has determined that service connection is remanded as there are no presumptive diseases associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 23, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there is no evidence of unemployability solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right (dominant) upper extremity, and left (nondominant) upper extremity as secondary to toxic herbicide exposure due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to be due to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,His hypertension and kidney disease are remanded as they do not meet the presumptive criteria based on herbicide exposure. His peripheral neuropathy claims are also remanded.,Service connection will be considered if there is a link between these conditions and his diabetes.

The Board dismissed the appeals as they were not about service connection at all, but rather about reopening claims due to new evidence. The Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral crushed toenail disability, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a causal link between his in-service injury and his current disabilities.